Freida Pinto to play 'Black Thirst' princess

Freida Pinto has been offered a role as an Arabian princess in Jean-Jacques Annaud's movie Black Thirst.

The epic will take place in the 1920s as America begins to target oil in the Gulf region. A Prophet lead Tahar Rahim, Antonio Banderas and Mark Strong are also in talks to star in the movie, which will shoot in Tunisia.

Producer Tarak Ben Ammar told the Daily Mail: "This is the story of an Arab prince in 1929. He's well-educated and he's married to a beautiful princess. He's confronted with the problem of what the discovery of oil will bring to the Bedouins.

"The Americans want the oil, but what will be the real cost?"

The 1957 book South Of The Heart: A Novel Of Modern Arabia by Hans R Ruesch is being used as the basis for the film.

Slumdog Millionaire star Pinto can next be seen in Woody Allen's latest comedy You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger.