In 2011, most of the British actors flying down to Rajasthan for a nine week schedule of John Madden's comedy-drama, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, had never been to India. While several of them didn't quite like shooting in the scorching Indian summer, Dame Judi Dench found herself falling in love with all things desi.

A year later, before the New York premiere of the film, the Oscar-winning actress recalled being “completely fascinated and bewitched within 24 hours of landing in the country“ and hoped the film portrayed how incredible India is and how beautiful its people are. Two years later, Dench was delighted to learn that John Madden and the unit were returning to India for a sequel, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Now, the veteran actress is gearing up for another stint in India, a 10-day sched ule of the Hollywood production, Victoria & Abdul. Based on London-based Indian author Shrabani Basu's book of the same name, the film will be directed by Stephen Frears who has previously worked with Dench in the 2013 film, Philomena. The heart-warming drama went on to win Best Screenplay at the BAFTAs and Venice Film Festival, and was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Set in the Victorian era, Victoria and Abdul follows the real-life story of an unusual friendship in the twilight years of Queen Victoria's long rule.

“The first schedule kicks off on August 21 in London. Dench will fly to India in the second week of September for the second schedule. The unit will film in Agra and Delhi. The film wraps up in November and is set for a 2017-end release,“ a source from the production unit informed Mirror.

Fukrey actor Ali Fazal, who recently made his Hollywood debut with a special appearance in the hit action-franchise, Furious 7, has been roped in as the male lead, Abdul Karim, a 24-year old Indian boy who was sent to London to wait tables for the Queen during her golden jubilee celebrations, goes on to become her Urdu instructor while she starts teaching him English. Soon, the duo is spending more time together, alarming the royal household that disapproves of their growing proximity.

“She (Dench) has lost her eyesight partially and struggles to read film scripts and see people sitting across from her at the dinner table. But despite her eye problems, she has no plans to retire and is all set to head back to India and film with a Bollywood actor,“ adds the source.

Later this year, Dench will be seen as Miss Avocet in Tim Burton's adventurefantasy, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Last month, she wrapped up Tulip Fever, an American-British production directed by Justin Chadwick, which opens in theatres in 2017.