Shantaram moves into big screen

Mumbai: From forging passports to signing copies of his best-selling book, it's been a leap of faith for Gregory David Roberts.

The man behind Shantaram is getting ready to see his work translated on the big screen. The film, to be directed by Peter Weir, is set go on the floor in November this year.

Faced with a choice of either Russell Crowe or Johnny Depp in the lead, Roberts opted for the latter.

"I had this connection with Johnny Depp long before the auctions for the distribution. He has a lot of Indian friends. The way he spoke about them has made me realise that he was the best actor who could bring that love to the film," Roberts said.

The author was recently in Mumbai to watch his book make a transition to the big screen.

Depp is not the only fan of the book. The continuing success of the book as it finds new readers have pushed Roberts to begin work on a sequel. But in the last 15 years, after various avatars as gunrunner, smuggler and singer, Roberts has instant karma finally caught up with the former fugitive.

Going beyond his best-selling work Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts is one man who's taken the road less travelled.

"It's been 15 years since I decided to change my life. You make your own karma," he said.

Shantaram is set to be translated into Marathi this year. For now, Roberts is well on his way to writing the next chapter in his already colourful life with Bollywood and Hollywood projects and jamming with his rock band.

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