Hindu leaders are urging the producers of Julia Roberts' new film to use spiritual consultants in a bid to make sure the movie adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert's bestseller Eat, Pray, Love offers an authentic portrayal of life in an ashram.
Rajan Zed, the leader of the Universal Society of Hinduism, fears the project will be another poor Hollywood depiction of Indian spiritual life - and he's urging those behind the film to serve Hindus by getting it right.
Roberts will reportedly film in one ashram as she portrays the author, who spent four months in a sacred retreat, scrubbing floors.
Zed says, "Hinduism and its belief system are quite often misunderstoodand incorrectly depicted outside India. I urge the filmmakers to stay true to authentic traditions. Misrepresentation would not be fair to Hindusand Hinduism.
"The people of India will be anxious to see how perfectly Roberts does her job of cleaning ashram floors as a part of her devotional duty, trying to recite 182-verse Sanskrit chant, and going through gruelling hours of meditation, while being feasted on by mosquitos.
"If the filmmakers need any help concerning the depiction of Hinduism or related issues, I, myself, or other Hindu scholars would be glad to assist".
The crew behind the filming of Gilbert's travel memoir includes some of those involved in the making of Slumdog Millionaire.
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