Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai In Pink Panther 2

This has to be the biggest film ever, for Aishwarya Rai.

Hollywood actor Steve Martin in an upcoming sequel to the iconic ‘The Pink Panther.’

To be directed by Harald Zwart of Agent Cody Banks fame, the sequel will also have Andy Garcia, John Cleese and Alfred Molina. Jean Reno and Emily Mortimer will be back as Ponton and Nicole.

Rai’s business manager Harii Singh confirmed the news, first reported by Variety magazine. “It is true that Aishwarya has signed the film,” he said. The film is slated for release in 2009, and the “principal photography” will begin in France next month, Singh said. “Aishwarya will finish the dubbing for Ashutosh Gowariker’s Akbar Jodha and the shooting of Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Sarkar 2’ before starting on The ‘Pink Panther 2.’ From the first week of September to the end of October, she will be shooting outside India,” Singh added.

Ash will play one of the detectives along with Villain Molina and Garcia. They will join French police detective Jacques Clouseau, played by Martin.

To be co-produced by Columbia Pictures and MGM, the film will be distributed by Warner Brothers. Based on the 1964 Peter Sellers’ original, ‘The Pink Panther’ collected over $140 million last year.

Aishwarya Rai WIth Her Wax Model

Bollywood superstar and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai yesterday became the first Indian celebrity to have her wax model displayed at Madame Tussauds Museum in historic Time Square here.

Within minutes of unveiling of her life-like model dressed in intricately patterned red Sari, her fans in New York began flocking the museum to admire the waxwork.

The unveiling of the model, borrowed by the New York Madame Tussauds from its parent museum in London, coincided with the India’s 60th Independence Day celebration and will be on display for six weeks before being sent back.

But several of her fans, who had gathered at the museum, said the six weeks were too short a period for all fans from New York City and neighboring states to see their favorite star in wax.

A group of dancers, dressed in ‘lahengas’ and matching blouses, gave a scintillating performance during the 15 minute unveiling ceremony. The dances portrayed several of her popular songs.

In the museum, Rai is in the company of several other celebrities including Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

Besides Rai, the only Indian film personalities immortalised at Madame Tussauds in London are her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, super star Shah Rukh Khan and Tamil superstar Rajnikanth. Other Indian attractions at the museum are Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

But Rai became the first Indian celebrity to be displayed in New York. Rai’s waxwork was unveiled in London in 2004, timed with the release of her first international film, “Bride and Prejudice”, directed by London-based Gurinder Chadha. She was present during the unveiling in London.

Director of Marketing of the New York Museum Rosemary Preta said the coming of Rai’s waxwork to New York fulfills the long standing demand of her fans.

Set up by Frenchwoman Marie Tussauds in London in 1835, the world famous museum now has branches in Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Shanghai, besides New York, with Washington DC to be added to the list in October 2007.

Aishwarya Rai

For the first time in her career Aishwarya Rai goes completely makeup-free for Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar. He has had the time of his life shooting with the Bachchans, including their Bahu Aishwarya Rai.

Exults Ramu, “Very frankly I was wondering what she had in store considering I had never worked with her before. And considering the Sarkar sequel is a dark intense raw and real film I was apprehensive about how far Aishwarya Rai would be able to shed her immense glamor.”

But the Bachchan bahu took Ramu by surprise. “She shocked me with her performance. Without too many rehearsals and certainly without attending any pre-shoot workshop (I work, I don’t shop) Aishwarya has stood up to Amitji and Abhishek in every scene. Audiences will be shocked with her performance.”

Apparently Ramu is already planning a third part to the Sarkar saga. “I can’t see the film working without her. But to quote me as saying the film could’ve worked with Mr Bachchan and Abhishek but not without Aishwarya is like saying the Godfather could do without Brando and Pacino.”

Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai may have just married into Bollywood’s most powerful acting dynasty, but she seems unfazed by her illustrious in-laws, saying they are just “family to me.”

Rai, one of only a handful of Bollywood stars with crossover appeal thanks to films such as Bride And Prejudice, married fellow star Abhishek Bachchan in April, creating what Indian media have dubbed the “ultimate power couple.”

Rai spoke to AFP on Saturday at Leeds Metropolitan University, north England where her father-in-law, actress Shabana Azmi and producer/director Yash Chopra received honorary degrees during the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFAs).

Asked how it feels being part of such a famous family, she laughed, cast a glimpse towards her nearby husband and said: “It’s all great — well, they’re family to me and that’s what makes it most special.”

The emerald-eyed beauty also spoke of her excitement at the “Unforgettable” world tour, kicking off in April 2008, when she will appear on stage with Bachchan father and son for the first time.

“I’ve been on world tours before which are always a fantastic experience because that’s your opportunity to really interact with your wellwishers, fans, world over in person,” she said.

“It’s great fun, we have a blast and this time it will be definitely unforgettable to me, literally too, because I’m going to be with my loved ones and with the fantastic groups that we tour with.”

Rai has no complaints about the warmth of the reception she has received during the IIFAs in Britain, insisting that the Bollywood film industry here is booming.

“It’s wonderful so far, the people here have been really, really warm and affectionate and we’re enjoying the welcome,” she said.

“The fact is that the film industry enjoys incredible support already in this country … actually we really do enjoy a fantastic support, a great audience and a very, very comfortable place here.”

Rai was nominated for the best actress award at the IIFA awards Saturday night for the hit action thriller Dhoom 2, which also stars her husband. But she lost out to Rani Mukherjee in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.