Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 24, 2013)

The Expendables star, John DeLong, will make his Bollywood debut in Rajiv Ruia’s film, Flames. Rajiv had earlier directed My Friend Ganesha and Main Krishna Hoon.

 DeLong, who has also acted in films like Deadliest Prey and The Phoenix Rises, will be seen as a reporter with a channel who comes to India to research a project. “He studies a few tribal villages in Chattisgarh where women are still exploited under the guise of black magic. I had read about these disturbing age-old practices and wanted to make a film on it,” says the director.

 Ruia got to know DeLong through a common friend and mailed him the script. “:He didn’t take long to say ‘yes’,” he says elatedly. “We have recreated parts of Chattisgarh in a Gujarat village and have hired many of the locals to be a part of the film in some way. They are all very excited about making their Bollywood debut with a Hollywood actor.”

The film also stars Hrishita Bhatt whom DeLong meets in India and falls in love with her.