Julia Roberts

Although Oscar winner Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman) is still filming in rural India, preparations are on in Bali island of Indonesia for the final leg of the shooting for “Eat, Pray, Love”.

A local production company in Bali’s capital Denpasar reportedly held a casting session to pick about 100 local actors for the movie, which lasted two days. Shooting will reportedly be held in Kuta, Ubud, etc., places in Bali from October 15 to November 11.

Based on Pushcart Prize winner Elizabeth Gilbert’s spirituality/travel memoir (played by Roberts), “Eat, Pray, Love” is about her self-discovery and soul-searching after her nasty divorce, exploring through India, Italy, and Indonesia.

After reveling in cuisine in Italy and exploring spirituality in India ashram (hermitage), she will find a balance between worldly pleasures and divine ascendency in Bali where she will study with a ninth-generation medicine man and immerse in a love affair.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, seeing Roberts’ interest in spirituality and yoga, urged her to explore Hinduism further in Bali which was full of Hinduism resources. About 20, 000 temples/shrines were scattered across Bali, which was also referred as “Island of Gods”, Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, stated in Nevada (USA) today.

Bali; known for its surf, rice terraces, beaches, temple ceremonies, dances, etc.; is one of the 33 provinces of Indonesia and its largest tourist destination. About 93 percent population is Hindu. Gilbert met Wayan, traditional Balinese healer, and Ketut Liyer, medicine man, in Ubud.

Aimed at a release in 2011 and directed by Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck); “Eat, Pray, Love” also stars Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men), Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Viola Davis (Doubt), Billy Crudup (Almost Famous), James Franco (Pineapple Express), Luca Argentero (Lezioni di cioccolato), etc.