Freida Pinto in Thomas Hardy's novel adaptation

Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto is set to star in Trishna, a movie adaptation of Thomas Hardy's famous novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles. While the original novel was set in the British countryside but the adaptation will have an Indian backdrop.

Fresh from the strong openingof Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the 26-year-old actress is ready to head into leading lady status with this Michael Winterbottom-directed film, The Hollywood Reporter said.
The story follows the daughter of an auto rickshaw owner Trishna (Pinto), who finds her life destroyed by a combination of love and circumstances. She meets a businessman Jay who comes to town to work for his father's business.

Trishna, co-starring British actor Riz Ahmed, marks Winterbottom's third adaptation of a Hardy novel. He previously directed 1996's Jude, based on Jude the Obscure, and 2000's The Claim, based on The Mayor of Casterbridge.

The film is premiering at this year's Toronto Film Festival in September.