Vivek Oberoi plays the title role of "Kisna" with two new heroines - Isha Sharvani, a renowned dancer from Kerala, and Antonia Bernath from London - along with famous British actors Michael Maloney, Caroline Lingruish and veteran actress Polly Adams.

A talented team of Indian actors supporting them includes Hrishita Bhatt, Amrish Puri, Om Puri, Yash Pal Sharma, Shivaji Sattam, Zarina Wahab and Rajat Kapoor.

The film is set in the India of the tumultuous 1930's when nationalists fighting for the country's independence rose up as one, urging the British to quit. At this time, a young Indian, Kisna ( Vivek Oberoi ) befriends and then shields a British girl Katherine ( Antonia Bernath ), from an enraged mob of nationalists including Kisna's own uncle and brother.

Katherine is the young daughter of a ruthless British collector. Kisna takes it upon himself to escort Katherine to the safety of the British High Commission in New Delhi, who will arrange for her to board a ship home.

A tender attraction develops between Kisna and Katherine during the journey, a love story that is torn between ‘ Karma ' (the noble deed) and ‘ Dharma ' (the duty). Laxmi ( Isha Shravani ), the Indian girl Kisna is engaged to, forms the third point in an emotional triangle involving the Indo-British romantic pair.

This musical love story has two veteran music composers, A.R. Rahman and Ismail Darbar, and lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Ghai also ropes in the sensuous Sushmita Sen to gyrate on the exclusive qawalli composed by Darbar and choreographed by Saroj Khan.

"It's purely an Indian film with Indian music, Indian values and Indian emotions with an Indian backdrop for a wider range of audience from masses to classes," says Subhash Ghai.

"This is my effort to reach out to everybody in the cinema hall and provide entertainment with a great story," he adds. "This would be the best script so far in my career."

Shot on sync sound under the direction of Dilip Subramaniam at Ranikhet, the project has impressed its international actors with the standard of content and technique Indian filmmakers are achieving.

"Kisna" will also go to the international market with its two-hour English version while the Hindi version will be a regular three-hour feature film with songs and dances.

A.R. Rahman has recorded a special English number for "Kisna" for the international market, which will be released in the international music market.

Shot on a budget of Rs.250 million ($5.48 million), "Kisna" is being photographed by national award winning cinematographer Ashok Mehta with another national award winner Samir Chanda as production designer and art director.

Tinu Verma is the action director, while Saroj Khan does the choreography for this epic love story expected to be release by the end of this year.

Bernath, who is of British origin, was studying drama at Bristol's Old Vic Theatre School (founded by legendary actor Sir Laurence Olivier in 1946). She opted out of the drama school when her agent asked her to audition for Ghai. She has done small roles on TV like "Holby City" and "The Afternoon Play".