THE MISTRESS OF SPICES is a universal immigrant story told through magical realism in the vein of LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE and CHOCOLAT. It is a sensual love story building on the cultural themes of the writers of BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM and WHAT'S COOKING? - what as an immigrant do you choose to keep or leave behind as you assimilate. TILO is an outsider from India who has to come to terms with her new country, America. But as a 'mistress of spices', there are certain rules she must follow. TILO runs a spice store in San Francisco and has a magical gift of seeing into her customers' lives and desires. She gives them different spices to help them get what they want. In order for the magic to work, TILO must obey the rules set out for a mistress - never leave the store, never touch another human, and love only the spices. When DOUG - a handsome, enigmatic American with a secret past - enters her store, TILO's own desires are stirred for the first time. She begins to feel passion for the American and as she becomes closer to DOUG, the spices she has given her other customers begin to misbehave. The more TILO falls in love and begins to defy the rules, the worse the lives of her customers become. TILO must decide. Will she choose forbidden love for an American over devotion to her spices and her traditions? Aishwarya Rai, star of Gurinder Chadha's upcoming BRIDE & PREJUDICE, is confirmed to play TILO. A leading American actor will play DOUG. An exciting range of British Asian actors complete the strong ensemble cast. TILO must decide. Will she choose forbidden love for an American over devotion to her spices and her traditions?