Ketan Mehta's long awaited historical saga "Mangal Pandey - The Rising", starring Aamir Khan, has been selected as the opening film of the Locarno Film Festival.

It will premiere in Locarno, Switzerland, Aug 3, Bollywood Trade reports quoting producer Bobby Bedi, who heard the news Sunday evening.

Aamir's "Lagaan" had received a fantastic reception at the Locarno Film Festival four years ago.

The festival will be attended by Bedi, Aamir, Rani Mukherjee and Mehta. After the theatrical release of the film, Bedi plans to enter it in other festivals like Toronto and Sundance.