'Naseer is a miscast!' Gulshan Grover and Shah vie for the same role.

Lata Khubchandani

Naseeruddin Shah is being considered for a Hollywood film The League Of The Extraordinary Gentleman, starring Sean Connery.

There are many in the industry supporting Shah, as he goes West. Except one man. Gulshan Grover.

Apparently, Grover was considered for Shah's role initially. "20th Century Fox (the producers of the film) want someone who has had a very evil past (in films) and who has now joined this extraordinary mission. I fit the bill perfectly. Naseer is a miscast."

According to Grover, the hesitation is due to the fact that London based NRI (Non-resident Indians) filmmakers Mira Nair and Shekhar Kapoor are 'lobbying' for Shah, who is in London at the moment.

"I will know who gets the role in a few days," adds Grover. "Naseer had once said that Ben Kingsley was a miscast in the film Gandhi (Shah was considered for the role of Gandhi before Kingsley finally got it). The role in The League Of The Extraordinary Gentleman should go to a tough and aggressive person -- who's acted as a criminal all his life. I qualify for it more than Naseer. It's not a poet's role."

The film, to be shot in Europe, is directed by Steven Norington.