Aishwarya Rai to play Rani Lakshmibai

The gorgeous Aishwarya Rai is all set to play the famous Indian warrior queen � Rani Lakshmibai � in a film by Ketan Mehta .

The newly wed Bachchan bahu will add a must-have skill to her acting repertoire � learning to use a sword while riding a horse.

Ash will need the skills to play the role Mehta said in an interview on Friday.

``Ash will undergo intensive training,'' Mehta said. ``The role demands a lot of action scenes.''

Ash is to play Rani Lakshmibai, the legendary ruler of Jhansi, who played a key role in the 1857 uprising against India's then British colonial rulers.

Lakshmibai died aged 23 on the battlefield while fighting British soldiers in 1858.

Mehta said he was completing the script for the movie �Jhansi Ki Rani� and the cast would include British actors. He also plans to hire British technicians and trainers for the action sequences.

Ash, who recently married Abhishek Bachchan , will star in the title role.

Mehta�s last film was the Aamir Khan � Rani Mukherjee starrer Mangal Pandey - The Rising two years ago.

Last year, former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen said she planned to produce and star in a separate movie on Rani Lakshmibai, but is yet to announce details of its filming.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the uprising known as Sepoy Mutiny and the First War of Independence.

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