Mumbai: Mega Star Amitabh Bachchan launched his first film "Viruddh" under the banner of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation at a function in Mumbai last night (July 15, 2004).

To be directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, the film will have two versions. In Hindi it will be called as 'Viruddh', while the English version would be titled 'Versus'.

Besides Amitabh, other stars to feature in the film are Sharmila Tagore, Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham.

"After clearing all our debts early this year, I am happy to announce that this is the first film under the banner of A B Corp that begins its shooting from tomorrow. And this film will be released in May 2005, Amitabh said.

Bachchan, who had launched his own entertainment company Amitabh Bachchan Ltd in 1995, was in financial doldrums in late 90s and had incurred a debt of Rs 90 crore.

He, however, repaid the entire due of the creditors and once again launched his company in new avtaar Amitabh Bachchan Corporation early this year.

"We burnt our fingers badly when we did the business on our own and therefore we don't want to take risks on our own this time. In doing this film, we are jointly investing money with our other partner Satyajeet Movies so that our risks are divided," Bachchan said.

Film "Virudh" is about an ordinary Maharashtrian couple, played by Amitabh Bachchan and Sharmila Tagore, taking on the system after they are treated unjustly.

"If a cat is pushed to the wall she retaliates. In the same way if an ordinary person is pushed to the wall by the system he too will take on the system. And therefore the film's name is Viruddh or Versus as I take on the system after a particular incident that changes my life," Bachchan said.

In this film, Amitabh and Sharmila Tagore are coming together after 20 years. Their last film was 'Desh Premi' directed by late Manmohan Desai.

Social crusaders like Anna Hazare, Medha Patkar, Bahuguna of Chipko movement fame and Tarun Tejpal, editor of Tehelka weekly newspaper graced the launch function of "Virudh".

Asked what was the reason for him to bring the social crusades to the event, Bachchan said, "There was no particular reason. It is just that they have done great work for social cause in our country. So we thought to bring them to this event."

Speaking on the occasion, Mahesh Manjrekar, the director of the film, said of late there have been many action and romantic films in the making. "So we thought that we should touch a different subject that would be very different. And therefore, we are doing this film which will be very different from the current genre of the film that is being made." Asked why was he making the film in English language too, Manjrekar said, "I want to highlight the problems and issues that faces a common Indian to all over the world. This subject is very universal and it touches people's heart. So we thought to make this film in English version too."