The Mighty Heart, directed by Michael Winterbottom, is based on a memoir of the journalist by his widow, Mariane. Jolie plays Mrs Pearl.

The Hollywood couple flew into the western city of Pune on Thursday along with their three children, reports say.

"Mass hysteria is mounting in Pune...", said the Hindustan Times newspaper. "(The city) has not witnessed a shoot of this scale," the newspaper said.

A Mighty Heart was written by Mariane Pearl after her husband was kidnapped in Karachi and murdered while investigating Al Qaeda. The film will examine his reasons for being in Pakistan, his abduction and his wife's attempts to find him.

Mariane has said she is "delighted" that Jolie "will be playing my role in the adaptation of my book".

Dan Futterman plays the role of the journalist. Leading Indian actor Irfan Khan also stars in the film.

The outskirts of Pune will serve as the backdrop of the film and recreate places in Pakistan.

Source: BBC News