Veteran Indian star Dev Anand is planning a new "international romance" and he's going to Northern Scotland to look for his leading lady.

The actor is on his way to the Cannes Film Festival, but will be making a quick stop to search for locations and a female lead for the movie that has been given the tentative name of 'When Heartbeats are the Same'.

Dev Anand first visited Inverness a decade ago when he went there to direct and star in a film.

"There was magic in the scenery everywhere, in Scotland's countryside, its towns, its lakes, its valleys and dales," Times Online quoted him, as saying.

"My whole being is excited at the prospect of my return. One movie in Scotland is not enough," he added. "My script will demand local actors."

If funding permits it, the actor will also be looking for Scottish musicians to compose a score for the new project.

The movie will see the veteran star playing the father of an Indian hero.

And, to make his job a bit easier, he is also said to be opening an office for his production company in Inverness.