MUMBAI:

So far Indian actors had to be content playing secondary parts in Hollywood films. But things have changed now and Hollywood no more thinks of Bollywood as third world entertainment. Proof of this lies in the fact that Deepa Mehta’s Luna, which has been postponed from winter this year to spring 2008, will star our own John Abraham along with Hollywood biggies Rachel Weisz and Dustin Hoffman.

The latest Hollywood stalwart to join the Luna cast is Chris Cooper, the Oscar-winning actor from Adaptation, who was also seen at his brilliant best in Syriana and Sea Biscuit.

“Chris is an actor I’ve admired for years,” said Mehta. “He’ll play Dustin Hoffman’s right-hand man. But yes, John is the male lead of Luna, no two ways about it,” she added.

More proof of India’s growing clout in Hollywood? Mehta offered to pull out of Luna. But the producers, Warner Brothers, insisted on her donning the director’s cap.“It’s true. When Luna got delayed, I told my producers I would only film it in February 2008 because I wanted to capture a particular look in Philadelphia. I did offer to pull out. But they very kindly agreed to postpone the project,” said Mehta.