Britain?s Prince Charles, on a nine-day visit to India, has agreed to snap the clapperboard to start shooting of a Bollywood film on the first major Indian revolt against British rule.

?The Rising? is based on an 1857uprising when Hindu and Muslim soldiers revolted in the belief the cartridges they had to bite before loading into their guns were greased with the fat of cows and pigs, forbidden by their religions.

The uprising, which the British called a mutiny and the Indians their first war of independence, led to Britain taking over most of the country from the British East India Company.

?The war was against the East India Company and it created the British empire,? Bobby Bedi, producer of the film, told Reuters. ?It?s a nice way to celebrate Charles? visit to India.?

Prince Charles, who arrived on Tuesday for a tour focusing on the environment and heritage restoration, is to visit the set in Bombay on Monday and snap the clapperboard to start the filming.

The film, which will be made in English and Hindi in Bollywood?s typical melodramatic style, has a line-up of stars including the reigning queen of the Bombay film industry, Aishwarya Rai, and Hindi film heartthrob Aamir Khan.