Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma is for the first time in his 14-year career launching a new star - Delhi boy Mohit Ahlawat - in a film called "James".

"I've never done this before. Never thought I'll launch a star," tells Varma. "But this boy, when I saw him, I thought he is superstar material.

"He has that presence."

Ahlawat will play the protagonist in "James", a film Varma called his vehicle.

"The film is about 'see Ahlawat'. Ahlawat fighting, Ahlawat dancing, Ahlawat romancing," said the 43-year-old director-producer.

The film would also be a contemporary version of "Shiva", the film that catapulted Varma to stardom more than a decade ago.

"'James' has that rawness of 'Shiva' but obviously more stylised, more chic," said Varma. "After I met Ahlawat, I told him, don't do anything, just sit around until I get the right script for you.

"And he actually sat around and prepared for the role for one year. During this time I got the script of 'James' ready."

"James" is being directed by one of Varma's assistants and produced by his company that he calls The Factory.