"My first film was not produced by him. This is not the done thing in Bollywood where producers launch their children but I guess the fact that Sanjay Leela Bhansali gave me the break stamped my career with legitimacy. My second film was not produced by my father, either. But for the Jane Austen project [the working title is Aisha] I could not but resist asking dad. I think this will be a funny and entertaining film, a very different kind of film compared to his last production, Gandhi My Father. When I read the script I was howling and laughing at the same time," she adds with a chuckle.

The novel Emma has had many film versions including Alicia Silverstone-starrer Clueless. Gwyneth Paltrow also played the mischievous young woman who sets up her single friends in Emma in 1996. In the film, Emma does not realise she is not very good at it and it comes as no surprise when she makes tangled mess of everyone's lives. And then Emma falls in love herself. The question is if she will be able to let everyone go from her hilarious and misguided attempts at matchmaking?

The project is written for the screen by Devika Bhagat [Manorama Six Feet Under] and would be directed by a relatively little known but promising director Rajshree Ojha [Chaurahen].

"Devika wrote the screenplay with me in my mind," Sonam reveals. "She had read in a magazine story about how much I adored Austen's work."

Sonam joined the 'girls' -- including sister Rhea -- in making a presentation to her father. Sonam has become a part of the production team.

"We need love and nurturing as filmmakers and artists," she says. "Dad would give us much more than nurturing and love."

In the picture: A still from Saawariya

Also See: Sonam and the F-word

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