Melbourne, Aug 3 : Bollywood actress Tania Zaetta will star in Geelong's most expensive and ambitious independent film, The Ninja.

The film is directed by film buff Rob Baard, who says he is close to securing 6 million dollars from backers for his debut feature film.

The production will use North Geelong's Mill Markets as studio with scenes shot around the city's streets. Baard also hopes to shoot in the city centre plaza, Market Square, and use hundreds of Geelong extras.

Zaetta's manager confirmed on August 1 that she had signed on to appear as the lead female alongside Baard in the lead role. The film would follow in the tradition of Hollywood action flick 'Daredevil', with a self-proclaimed black belt "Ninja Warrior" to perform his own stunts.

"The duo (Baard and Zaetta) go head to head against a corrupt company CEO and group of deadly ninja assassins," The Geelong Advertiser quoted Baard as saying.

"We've come up with an original story that addresses relevant issues such as petrol prices, media and the general direction the world is heading," he added.

The Ninja will be the amateur filmmaker's first step into the cutthroat world of full-length films, but he already has plans to turn the film into a franchise.

"The Ninja has been set up with a view to franchise and spin off into other mediums such as comic books and graphic novels," he said.