Shyam Benegal is looking to revive 'Chamki Chameli' that was on the backburner for six years.

Shyam Benegal is keen to revive his long-in-the planning project Chamki Chameli. The musical that was announced almost six years ago was kept on the backburner due to various issues namely to find a producer and an actress.

Who will it be?
With names like Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra in the past and most recently even Vidya Balan doing the rounds to play the lead roles, Benegal has not given up hope to make his dream project.

Says the veteran filmmaker, "Yes, I am keen to revive Chamki Chameli but till everything is in place, I do not want to make any announcement. I am looking at the possibilities and only when the time is right can I say anything. It is too early for me to divulge any information now."

Chamki Chameli is inspired by Georges Bizet's opera Carmen but has an Indian setting. The story revolves around Chamki, a gypsy girl who is responsible for the downfall of many men.

In the past
Benegal at that time had already spoken to A R Rahman to score the music and the maestro had agreed. When the project was to get going initially there was buzz that Urmila Matondkar would feature in it.

Later in 2006, Sanjay Gupta was to produce the film for Benegal. At that time there was buzz that Kareena was to be cast as Chamki.


What also added to the buzz was that her sister Karisma Kapoor had featured in Benegal's Zubeidaa. But later Gupta opted out