Rekha, Priyanka together on screen?

Rekha -- the Umrao Jaan of the 1970s -- and Priyanka Chopra -- whom J P Dutta almost signed for the role of the new Umrao -- might soon be coming together for a film by Kalpana Lajmi.

"I've approached Rekha and Priyanka for a film based on the life of devdasis [South Indian temple dancers]. In principle, both have said yes. I'm extremely hopeful that this would be my next project after Chingari [starring Sushmita Sen], which is complete," says Lajmi.

"Making a film is still not an easy job for women in this country, specially for someone like me who prefers women-oriented subjects," the director adds.

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"The male stars shy away from me as though I have the plague! And everyone knows female stars, no matter how huge, do not sell films. Only Hema Malini did that," laughs Lajmi, who has made award-winning, commercially successful films with actresses like Shabana Azmi (Ek Pal) and Dimple Kapadia (Rudaali).

"Unfortunately, women-oriented films have lost their clout. A stray Chandni Bar does well. But my own films Daman with Raveena Tandon and Darmiyaan with Kiron Kher didn't get an audience. I'm hoping Chingari will spark off a new phase in my career, and Sushmita's," Lajmi says.

She bemoans what she calls the monopoly of a few powerful production houses over the stars.

"The problem isn't restricted to female filmmakers but also to smaller filmmakers. Unfortunately I fall in both categories of underprivileged filmmakers. I have no access to the really big stars. The big guns want to work with only Yash Chopra, Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and  a few others. The others have to make do with the crumbs. This isn't the best way to function in a country where hero-worship is an art form," she adds wistfully.

But she is hopeful.

"If my film on devdasis with Rekha and Priyanka and my proposed political drama Singhasan with Aishwarya Rai work out, I can see doors opening for all the female filmmakers."