After intense and frequently violent performances in films like Hero, Parinda and Ram Lakhan, Bollywood star Jackie Shroff [Images] will now portray the role of a saint -- Shirdi's Sai Baba.

The film, Malik Ek, will be directed by Deepak Balaraj Vij and will be produced by Kishori Shahane Vij under the banner of Om The Mantra Productions. Anup Jalota will score the film's music.

Speaking to reporters on the eve of the song recording at a Mumbai studio, Vij said he had wanted to make this film a long time back but the script was not ready. ''I worked on the script and approached Jackie. He did not even take five minutes and agreed immediately to do the film,'' he said. ''I took Jackie on for the film because he is an intense actor.''

Shroff was modest. ''Main jaisa hoon vaisa hi hoon, I am the way I am. I leave it to others to make me look good,'' he said.

Elaborating on the song being recorded, Anup Jalota said, ''We are recording a song on Raksha Bandhan and the music is in keeping with the times.'' The song is sung by Anuradha Paudwal.

Going on the floors in November, Malik Ek has screenplay by Shrish Latkar, camera by Manish Bhat and editing by Dilip Kotalgi.