Subhash K Jha

Mumbai: Carpet Boy to be written by Faroukh Dhondy won't be NRI filmmaker Deepa Mehta's first true-life story, contrary to reports in a section of the media.

In July this year, she starts filming Luna, her first true-life story of environmentalist Julia Hill who "embraced" the trees of California and lived on top of one for nearly two years to prevent ecological destruction.

Mehta, who is currently co-directing the comedy Stella in Delhi with her brother Dilip Mehta, goes into Luna in July. And then she shoots a big Hollywood epic Land Of The Morning Calm, again based on a true story, for a big American studio.

John Abraham will star opposite Hollywood's Rachel Weisz in the movie. This will be Mehta's second film with John after Oscar nominated Water.

"So if anything, Carpet Boy is my third true-life film in a row," she laughed.

"It's the story of a Pakistani boy called Iqbal Masih, who single-handedly changed laws pertaining to child labour in the carpet-weaving industry. For his crusading spirit, Iqbal was murdered," Mehta said.

She says Carpet Boy would be a departure from all the films she has directed so far.

"This film is based on Faroukh Dhondy's script. And I'll direct it at the end of 2009."