Gowariker's Buddha to get Hollywood touch

Ashutosh Gowariker has signed German cinematographer Karl Walter Lindenlaub, the man behind Hollywood projects like Independence Day and The Jackal, for his epic Buddha.

Lindenlaub has also shot Hollywood blockbusters like Up Close & Personal, The Haunting, Black Book and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

"The past two months of pre-production have been exciting. It has been exhilarating to be working with the DOP Karl Walter Lindenlaub (The Chronicles of Narnia, Independence Day, Stargate). These are movies that I have admired and seen over and over again. So, I feel privileged to be working with him on Buddha," Gowariker said in a statement.

"The first important decision that Dr Modi (producer) took was to make Buddha in English and that got me immediately interested because I have always felt that when it comes to religion, you must cater to an international audience, especially so in the case of Buddha," the director added.

The film's producer Bhupender Modi hopes that Lindenlaub's involvement will help film's international appeal. "Buddha, is a truly global film and we needed a team that would have a global sensibility and transcend language barriers."

The 46-year-old director, who has already initiated an online hunt for a new face to play the title role in his epic film, will focus on the life of Prince Siddhartha and his journey to enlightenment where he becomes known as Buddha.

Gowariker has received over 6,000 photos and videos that have been uploaded to the buddha-movie.com website with visitors from over 100 countries.

"I am going through the hundreds of auditions that have come in and I must say, we are getting closer to our Buddha," he said.

The director hopes that good technicians will help him create the 500 B C era accurately on screen. It is Gowariker's third period film after Oscar-nominated Lagaan (2001) and Jodhaa Akbar (2008).