Mallika Sherawat cast alongside ‘AVATAR’ star Laz Alonso

Mallika Sherawat cast alongside ‘AVATAR’ star Laz Alonso in political comedy ‘Love, Barack’

Mallika Sherawat has been cast opposite AVATAR co-star Laz Alonso in the feature LOVE, BARACK, a political romantic comedy set during the frantic and intoxicating days leading up to 2008 U.S. Presidential election. Doug McHenry (NEW JACK CITY) is directing the film. Los Angeles Times contributing writer Gary Goldstein wrote the script. Francis Kenny is Director of Photography.

Mallika Sherawat will play the female lead and central character Aretha Gupta, a devoted, local Obama volunteer coordinator. The story, a snapshot of a moment in time that was filled with hope, change, and passionate debate, follows the romantic and political rollercoaster that develops when, the month before Election Day, Democrat Aretha unexpectedly falls for her Republican counterpart (Alonso), a handsome, dynamic African-American working for the local McCain office.

Acclaimed veteran actress Ruby Dee (Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nominee for 2007’s AMERICAN GANGSTER) has also joined, rounding out the cast that includes comedy veteran Gerry Bednob (THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN) and Loretta Devine (WAITING TO EXHALE, CRASH).

Sherawat says, “Laz Alonso is a talented and exciting actor. I’m very lucky to be working with him.”
The story’s inspiration comes from the many publicly-documented campaign romances that sprung-up around the Obama Presidential win, which experts speculate resulted in a baby-boom last year and what is being called an “Obama baby-boom.”