Richard Gere is follower of Dalai Lama and since two decades has been advocating Human Rights in Tibet. Tibetans close to Gere in Dharamsala said Hollywood actor had been working on the planned movie for almost last five years.
"Though not much is known but the movie, it is certainly based on the theme which is very close to Richard's heart" said Lobsang Wangyal, an exile Tibetan.
According to Wangyal, story of the movie revolves around Tibet and Buddhism. Gere has selected Bollywood's Rajiv Khinchi to choreograph the movie, which is likely to be filmed in Buddhist dominated Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.
The shooting would begin next month. Gere has also contacted Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts for engaging a folk artist for the Tibetan dance sequence in his film.
Those associated with Richard Gere says that Hollywood Star could make his usual unscheduled visit to Dharamshala to select some locations in the hill town, the exile home of Dalai Lama for the past half a century. Dalai Lama, who escaped from Lhasa in 1959 had chosen to settle in Dharamshala after spending a year in Mussorie in the present-day Uttarakand state.
Gere is a co-founder of the Tibet House, creator of The Gere Foundation, and he is Chairman of the Board of Directors for the International Campaign for Tibet. Gere has been sponsoring welfare programs for Tibetan living in Dharamshala and other Tibetan settlements in India.
Three years ago, Gere when visiting the Dalai Lama had offered monetary support to repair a shorter vehicular road leading to Mcleodganj but the state government declined the assistance. The road has now been repaired by the state government.
Richard Gere has been visting Dharamsala since the late 80's when he arrived in the hill town for the first time along with Goldie Hawn to meet Dalai Lama.
