Actor Abhay Deol may just have to play the lead role in his first home production because of monetary constraints.

"I'm making baby steps in production... Being a first time producer, I won't get a big-time star to work in those films. So I have to put myself in the film because of money constraints," Abhay said.

The Bollywood actor spoke about it during an interactive session Saturday at the 43rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here.

Known as one of Bollywood's more circumspect and reluctant stars, Abhay also said that he would rope in the big actors if his debut film, which he is attempting, does well.

Later, in conversation with director Vishal Bhardwaj, Abhay said his role as a south Indian bureaucrat in Dibakar Banerjee's "Shanghai" was the most difficult role he has essayed yet. And he says it was due to the distinct accent he had to cultivate.

"It was a south Indian accent and we traditionally have an infrastructure of accent training factors in our country, we don't have professionals. So even during breaks, I would speak with that accent, and have to keep in mind the accent, and the emotion and the scene and the motive," he said.