'Slumdog' actor Anil Kapoor to star in Indian version of '24'

LONDON, April 19 (UPI) -- "Slumdog Millionaire" actor Anil Kapoor is to star in a Mumbai-set version of the American television thriller "24," the BBC reported.

Kapoor, 53, has appeared in more than 100 Bollywood films in the past three decades.

"I am not playing it safe; I am playing the lead," the British broadcaster quoted the actor as saying about playing the Indian counterpart to Kiefer Sutherland's "24" hero Jack Bauer. "I'm a movie star."

The original version of "24," which followed the exploits of a government counter-terrorism unit, ran from 2001-10.

The Indian version is expected to premiere this year.