Chinese actress Gong Li poses for luxury watch brand Piaget on September 3, 2013. [Photo/CFP]

BEIJING, Sept 17?-- Seven years after the "Curse of the Golden Flower", veteran director Zhang Yimou and his muse Gong Li have got together again for his new feature project "Gui Lai".

The film, which began shooting on Monday in Beijing, is based on renowned Chinese novelist Yan Geling's "Lu Fan Yan Shi (Criminal Lu Yanshi)".

The novel depicts the highly-educated Shanghai dandy Lu Yanshi who, after years of overseas study, returns to China only to be dragged into the political turmoil of the 1950s. Things in his hometown have also changed a lot when he finally revitalizes his love for his wife after many years of separation.

The project marks Zhang's second collaboration with Yan after "The Flowers of War (2011)," for which Yan provided the source novel and also penned the script.

"Gui Lai" is a very good novel and she (Yan) has always given me support," Zhang said.

The Chinese phrase "Gui Lai" literally means "return", but the official English title of the film is yet to be announced.

Addressing her first collaboration with Zhang in seven years, Gong Li said the character (Lu's wife) is a very difficult one.

"I'll really be a good actress if I can play this role well," Gong said.

Lu will be played by veteran mainland actor Chen Daoming.