Actress Padmini Kolhapure will star opposite Milind Gunaji in ''Manthan'', a Marathi film produced by actor Amitabh Dayal.

The mahurat of the film, scheduled for Diwali release, took place today. Apart from Padmini and Gunaji, ''Manthan'' stars veteran actress from the Marathi film world Kishori Shahane, Varsha Usgaonkar and also Suhas Palshikar and Vijay Kadam.

Talking to reporters here, Padmini, who has featured in a Marathi film earlier ''Chimni Pakhara'' and also a play, said she had never retired from films. ''I am open to any good offer be it Hindi or Marathi film. I liked the script. It is about the husband-wife ego clashes''.

The debutant director, Dr Mrinalini Patil, who was involved in the production of Hindi film ''Kagaar'', said the protagonist Anjali Despande was a large than life character and she wanted an actress who was not restricted just to regional cinema but had an appeal outside Maharashtra as well, to portray the role. ''Padmini fitted the role perfectly''.

Dr Patil, who served as censor board member for eight years, said ''Manthan'' highlighted domestic violence faced by women from all sections of the society.

Producer and actor Amitabh Dayal said he has been residing in Maharashtra for 16 years and felt very close to Marathi language and culture.

He plans to produce more Marathi films.