High-profileBollywood conglomerate Eros International has acquired the rights to the dramafeature Provoked.

Directedby Jagmohan Mundhra, the film is a departure from Eros' usual Bollywood fare,foregoing song and dance to tell the true story of Punjabi housewife KiranjitAhluwahlia, who murdered her abusive husband in 1989 and whose trialtransformed the British judicial system.

Thecharacter of Kiranjit is played by Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai, who relishedthe opportunity to take on such a dramatic role."As anactor I wanted to tell her story and as a woman I wanted to tell her story,"she says. "It was emotionally draining and physically demanding but,personally, it was a very important film for me."

Provoked isscheduled for release in February 2007.