Rekha -- the Umrao Jaan [Images] of the 1970s -- and Priyanka Chopra [Images] -- whom J P Dutta almost signed for the role of the new Umrao -- might soon be coming together for a film by Kalpana Lajmi.

"I've approached Rekha [Images] and Priyanka for a film based on the life of devdasis [South Indian temple dancers]. In principle, both have said yes. I'm extremely hopeful that this would be my next project after Chingari [starring Sushmita Sen [Images]], which is complete," says Lajmi.

"Making a film is still not an easy job for women in this country, specially for someone like me who prefers women-oriented subjects," the director adds.

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"The male stars shy away from me as though I have the plague! And everyone knows female stars, no matter how huge, do not sell films. Only Hema Malini [Images] did that," laughs Lajmi, who has made award-winning, commercially successful films with actresses like Shabana Azmi [Images] (Ek Pal) and Dimple Kapadia [Images] (Rudaali).

"Unfortunately, women-oriented films have lost their clout. A stray Chandni Bar does well. But my own films Daman with Raveena Tandon [Images] and Darmiyaan with Kiron Kher didn't get an audience. I'm hoping Chingari will spark off a new phase in my career, and Sushmita's," Lajmi says.

She bemoans what she calls the monopoly of a few powerful production houses over the stars.

"The problem isn't restricted to female filmmakers but also to smaller filmmakers. Unfortunately I fall in both categories of underprivileged filmmakers. I have no access to the really big stars. The big guns want to work with only Yash Chopra [Images], Karan Johar [Images], Sanjay Leela Bhansali [Images] and  a few others. The others have to make do with the crumbs. This isn't the best way to function in a country where hero-worship is an art form," she adds wistfully.

But she is hopeful.

"If my film on devdasis with Rekha and Priyanka and my proposed political drama Singhasan with Aishwarya Rai [Images] work out, I can see doors opening for all the female filmmakers."