TORONTO - A Indian teen with little acting experience has landed the lead role in a film adaptation of Canadian author Yann Martel's acclaimed novel "Life of Pi."
Oscar-winning director Ang Lee tells USA Today that he's cast Suraj Sharma of Delhi as Pi Patel, who survives a shipwreck with a tiger.
The 17-year-old is said to have only acted once before, in a school play.
USA Today says he beat out over 3,000 hopefuls who auditioned for the role.
"Life of Pi" won the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 2002 and has sold seven million copies worldwide.
David Magee has penned the screenplay for the film, which Lee plans to film in India and Taiwan and release in 3D in 2012.
