Our filmmakers seem to be quite smitten with the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. We had Ketan Mehta making his Mangal Pandey a few years ago. If that wasn't enough, he even had plans of making a film on the Rani of Jhansi as well. That idea has probably been shelved for now by the director. But actress Sushmita Sen is quite gung-ho about forthcoming film on Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi. Now it seems that the government of India too is jumping into the fray.

As part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Revolt of 1857, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry is believed to be entering a tie-up with director Vinay Shukla, of Godmother fame. Shukla is expected to direct a film for the ministry which will showcase the revolt and focus on the efforts of its protagonists like Rani Laxmibai, Nana Saheb Peshwa and Tatya Tope. The bigger news is that the Om Shanti Om girl Deepika Padukone is being considered for the role of the Rani and Akshay Kumar for the role of Tatya, her childhood friend. Incidentally, if this casting goes through, it will be the second film which will see Deepika and Akshay come together on screen. The duo is currently shooting for Chandni Chowk To China being directed by Nikhil Advani.