Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Only Ash was offered 'Pink Panther 2': casting director

Refuting rumours about other Bollywood actors being offered a role in 'Pink Panther 2', its casting director Ilene Starger said they only considered Aishwarya Rai. 'Most emphatically, we did not offer the role to anyone other than Aishwarya! Aishwarya was, when I first read the script, the actress I envisioned for the role,' Starger told IANS from Los Angeles in an e-mail interview. Aishwarya shot for a day with Steve Martin and Andy Garcia in Paris Aug 20 for the film by Harold Zwart. 'Her intelligence, grace, beauty and sophistication are just what the role requires. And, of course, she has a touch of mystery too. She fits in wonderfully with our fantastic ensemble cast, and all of us involved with the film are thrilled to work with her.' Rumours had it that Celina Jaitley was offered the role first but rejected it. Also, Hrithik Roshan was asked to play detective Clouseau's assistant Vincent in part two of the comedy, but he too turned it down. However, Aishwarya's international manager Simone Sheffield dismisses the reports. Sheffield said: 'Negotiations went on for a month to secure Aishwarya and her dates. The script is absolutely wonderful and the wardrobe is great.

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