Salman plays the role of a choreographer hired by an arrogant American actress, played by Hollywood star Ali Larter, best known for wearing a bikini in the 1999 film Varsity Blues, after she is stranded in India. The film revolves round the story of the choreographer and the American actress and how they fall in love with each other.

Marigold also stars Nandana Sen, the daughter of Nobel Laureate in economics Amartya Sen, in a key role. Nandana appeared in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's latest film Black, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee, which was released last month. Her next film Tango Charlie, featuring Ajay Devgan, was released last Friday.

Larter has made a name for herself by acting in movies like Legally Blonde, House on Haunted Hill and teen thriller Final Destination.

Salman said while the shooting of Marigold begins next week, parts of the film would also be shot in Goa and Mumbai.

Marigold will be Hollywood's first major celluloid venture in India in several years and Carroll is set to finally start the shoot after the project has been on the drawing board for sometime.

Carroll's movie will undoubtedly mark a high point in Salman's career, during which he has starred in a dozen box-office hit movies including Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Hum Aapke Hain Kaun. The star's recent releases, including Tere Naam and Phir Milenge, India's first feature film on the subject of HIV/AIDs, earned critical acclaim.

Carroll, the writer-director, is known for directing Playing by Heart, starring Sean Connery and Angelina Jolie.

With Marigold, Salman will join the select club of Indian film actors who have appeared in Hollywood and British feature films. Among them are Victor Banerjee, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Shabana Azmi, Irfaan Khan and Aishwariya Rai.

Salman is one of the Bollywood actors who had been in the news for controversies off the screen first for alleged drunken driving in 2003 which claimed one life in Mumbai and his spat with Aishwariya Rai over their relationship. Salman and Aishwariya had appeared in lead roles in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.