India's Reliance Industries is exploring a bid for drug retailer Walgreens Boots Alliance's UK-based Boots business.

The Boots business spans across 2,200 stores in the UK, including pharmacies, health and beauty stores, according to the chain's website.

Deliberations were ongoing and there was no certainty Reliance would actually bid for Boot. The Boots business spans across 2,200 stores in the UK.

While a spokesperson for Boots declined to comment on the news, Reliance was not available for response late at night in India.

U.S.-based Walgreens said in January it was conducting a strategic review of the Boots business as the second largest U.S. pharmacy chain renews its focus on domestic healthcare.

Other suitors for Boots include TDR Capital, which owns supermarket chain Asda, a consortium of CVC Capital Partners and Bain Capital as well as U.S. investment firm Apollo.

 Boots is being sold as part of an auction process led by Goldman Sachs and can be valued at up to 8 billion pounds ($10.49 billion).