Sleepless In Seattle writer to pen Rajiv Gandhi bio-pic

Ashutosh Gowariker had signed one of America’s most distinguished and popular screenplay writers and directors David S. Ward to write the now-shelved bio-pic on Gautam Buddha.

Ward has now been roped in to write the bio-pic on Rajiv Gandhi to be directed by Bhavna Talwar at the end of this year.

Ward has to his credit the screenplay of such Hollywood masterpieces as the Robert Redford gems The Sting and Milagro Beanfield War. In fact, Ward’s association with Redford is long and hugely productive. Ward has also written such evergreen Hollywood flicks as Sleepless In Seattle and Major League. He has also directed the blockbusters King Ralph and Cannery Row.

This brilliant screenplay writer will now be spending the next one year of his life in Delhi tracking down the life and times of one of our most charismatic politicians, Rajiv Gandhi for Bhavna Talwar’s film.

Says a source, “If not Buddha then Rajiv Gandhi…Bhavna had met Ashutosh Gowariker who recommended Ward after Buddha was shelved. That’s how David Ward came into the Rajiv Gandhi film. Ward arrives in a month and will research and write on Rajiv from Delhi while Bhavna Talwar will focus on pre-production.”

When contacted Bhavna Talwar confirmed, “Yes, it’s David Ward who will write my Rajiv Gandhi film. Initially I thought of scripting it myself. But I decided against it for two reasons. One, I wanted an outsider’s perspective on the brilliant human being and statesman that was Rajiv Gandhi. I know Ward’s work. He possesses the sensitivity to pull it off effectively. Secondly, if I concentrated on writing the film, I’d have no time for all the other vast preparations required to start the film.”