Bollywood actress Aishwarya Bachchan filming the sequel to The Pink Panther in Paris, around the Grand-Palais. Photo Credit: Splash NewsSawf News Exclusive
22 Aug 2007 (Sawf News) - Aishwarya will play a lead character in Columbia Pictures The Pink Panther sequel, not a bit role, that may or may not have been offered to another Indian actress.
Her role as a detective assisting the bumbling French police detective Jacques Clouseau, played by Steve Martin, was not offered to anyone else
Dismissing claims by a Bollywood starlet that the role was earlier offered to her but she turned it down because it was not substantial, Simone Sheffield, Aishwarya's International Manager, says - "Just some actress trying to get media attention"
Photos of Aishwarya on the sets of The Pink Panther sequel
Ilene Starger the Casting Director on the Pink Panther confirms, "We never checked on any other actress, and, as I said in the past, I was resolute in my belief from day one that Aishwarya was perfect for this part!"
The combination of a lead role, a fun script and a great cast consisting Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer, Andy Garcia, Alfred Molina and John Cleese are likely to raise Aishwarya's Hollywood profile substantially.
In the past Aishwarya has played lead roles in Hollywood films such as Bride & Prejudice (2004), The Mistress of Spices (2005) and Provoked: A True Story (2006), all of which targeted a select audience.
The Pink Panther franchise, however, has a world wide following and Aishwarya's presence in the sequel should entrench her as a mainstream Hollywood actress.
With the film, Aishwarya, who has so far made a mark in the film industry doing glamour roles, will also be stepping into a new genre. A success in a comic role could open new avenues for her and allow her to maintain a solid presence in the film industry even as she distances herself from playing roles with sexual overtones.
In this context, it is interesting to note that the former Miss World (1994) recently opted out of Karan Johar's untitled production, to be directed by assistant Tarun Mansukhani, because she was required to play a "sexy" character.
It is ironical that Aishwarya, who gave an excellent account of herself in an action role in Bollywood Dhoom 2, failed in a similar role in her recently released Hollywood film The Last Legion. Both the film and Aishwarya's role in it have been panned by critics.
The Last Legion was actually canned before Dhoom 2. It features mainstream Hollywood actors like Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley and is estimated to have cost $67 million.
The film grossed a mere $2,597,000/- on its opening weekend.
However, Simone explains that the film cannot be construed as a professional setback for the actor.
"She did a great job in an action role which was a first for her at that time. If just one person enjoys a film starring any actor than professionally the actor gains," she said.
As far as critics go she adds, "Critics always have flak with someone. It depends on so many elements what they like and do not like......sadly in most cases it is personal and not professional."
News Copyright © Sawf News. May not be reproduced without explicit written permission