By: Subhash K Jha

If anyone thought Lisa Ray's illness would keep her down for even a short while, here's news. Lisa is all set to do a Hindi film, and that too with Sanjay Dutt in the lead.

Reviving interest
The film is the long-in-the-pipeline Charles Sobhraj biopic which is being revived after Percept Pictures announced their own film based on the criminal's life with Neil Nitin Mukesh in the lead.

Confirming Lisa's presence in his film, The Serpent Files, in spite of her unexpected health crisis, director Prawaal Raman says, "Lisa is to play the Charles Sobhraj character's love interest. After I heard about her illness I was wondering if bringing up work would be wise. But she assures me she's on." He goes on to say, "I'm in touch with her regularly.

I'm sure she'll be able to shoot quite comfortably. We'll make sure of that. I can't even dream of replacing her." Prawaal Raman met Sanjay Dutt recently again and the two of them have decided to go ahead with the project full- throttle in spite of the other Sobhraj project from Percept.

Yeh bhi?
Interestingly, Ram Gopal Varma also wants to make a film about Sobhraj. Says Prawaal, "I don't know the profile and authenticity of the other project that has been announced. As far as I know, they claim it is inspired by Sobhraj's life.

My biopic is very much Sobhraj's story but done in a cinematic way. I even got sued by him for this. But my uncle Amod Kant who's a top cop in Delhi, is on the project as an unofficial consultant. He's guiding us through legal matters that'd make this project happen."

Dutt has already allotted dates in December. Prawaal hopes to get Bipasha Basu to play another one of the Sobhraj character's love interests.

Who is Charles Sobhraj?
Also known as the 'Bikini Thief' and the 'Serpent Killer', Charles Sobhraj is allegedly wanted in any number of theft and murder incidents all across the globe. Born of a Vietnamese mother and an Indian father, Sobhraj travelled across continents allegedly conning and killing a trail of people.

Wanted in several countries, he was finally arrested in India. Lodged in Delhi's Tihar jail, he escaped in 1986 but was captured again. After completing his sentence in Tihar, Sobhraj was arrested in Nepal in 2003, where he's now serving time.