The life of Jesus Christ, which has inspired films by directors ranging from Cecil B. DeMille to Mel Gibson, is now getting the Bollywood treatment.

South Indian director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao and producer Konda Krishnam Raju have announced they will make a $30-million feature about the early life of Jesus.

 The two arrived in Jerusalem on Aug. 31 to begin filming, news reports said.

At a press conference there, they announced that the movie would be shot in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Raju was quoted as saying that the film will be the “first presentation of this type in Bollywood history.”

Rao told the media he hoped the film would spread “the message of love and peace” around the world.

“The shooting is likely to take off in about two months from now and will cover Jesus’ life in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jericho and Galilee, employing hundreds of locals in the production,” Rao was quoted as saying.

While the movie has special significance for Christians, it is “intended for a global audience,” he added.

“The film focuses on the childhood of Jesus, a contrast with other movies that depict the later years,” Raju said.

Children between the ages of 10 to 14 will play all the characters, along with two adults, the filmmakers said.

Christien Tinsley, worked in Gibson’s “Passion Of The Christ” will do the makeup for the young actors, reports said. This will not be Tinsley’s first Bollywood venture, however. He did the makeup in “Paa.”

The film will be narrated in four languages – English, Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam. It will include seven devotional songs, adding typical Bollywood flavor. According to news reports the adult roles will be played by different actors in each version.

“South superstar Pawan Kalyan will play the male role in the Telugu and Malayalam versions,” Raju said, adding that the name of the other stars, including “two big Bollywood names” would be named later.