French star Gerard Depardieu wants to launch show on Russian TV

Moscow: French film star Gerard Depardieu, who became a Russian citizen in January, said he wants to launch a series of TV programmes based on Russian literature.

"I`ve discussed with Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky the possibility of joint work in Russia. We would like to make some TV series based on Russian literature and involving actors from different countries, and to show the series across the globe," Depardieu said. The legendary French actor was given a Russian passport by President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in January. "I hope to learn Russian to be able to communicate with people," he said. Depardieu, however, said he would not like to live in Moscow. "Moscow is fussy and has many traffic jams." Depardieu renounced his French citizenship ahead of the French government`s planned implementation of a 75-percent tax rate for annual earnings above $1.3 million. By comparison, Russia has a fixed 13 percent income tax. France`s highest court later rejected the controversial government proposal, deeming it discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional. IANS