1/23/2004 » Literature, Film

Salman Rushdie is writing the screenplay for 'The Firebird's Nest,' a short story he wrote several years ago for 'The New Yorker.' His SO Padma Lakshmi will star, and Apoorva Ladhakia, the director of 'Mumbai Se Aaya Mere Dost' / 'The Journey,' is to direct.

While in India researching his next novel, Rushdie paid Vikram Chandra ('Love and Longing in Bombay,' 'Read Earth and Pouring Rain') the distinctive writer's compliment: envy.

Rushdie's been branching out recently with a play adaptation of 'Midnight's Children.'