Ash was third choice for 'Pink Panther' role?

By Subhash K. Jha Oct 11, 2007, 15:54 GMT

Mumbai, Oct 11 (IANS) Aishwarya Rai's business manager in LA denies it, but Celina Jaitley says the 'Pink Panther' role was sent to her first and then offered to Shilpa Shetty.

'With due respects to Aishwarya and her LA business manager, my work in the US is looked after by Brillstein Grey, who also looks after names like Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Orlando Bloom and Andy Garcia. The script was sent through my agents. And then it was also sent to Shilpa Shetty. I'm aware of that,' Celina told IANS.

Finally, the role fell into Aishwarya's lap and she is currently shooting for it in Boston.

'I'm not aware of where the project went after that. Nor am I interested in getting into a slanging match over a film that I didn't do. I'd rather talk about what I'm doing,' said Celina whose international career is flourishing.

She is all set to play the mythical beauty Sheherzade in the international project 'The Quest of Sheherzade'. For the petite beauty, the most exciting part of this fantasia-project is the rugged action.

'It's a role that requires extensive stunts. Fortunately, my father is an army officer. I learnt horse riding in school. But doing so without a saddle requires plenty of training. And I'm off to the US in Feb 2008. Shooting starts probably in Turkey next summer.'

'The Sheherzade' role sounds quite a lot like what Aishwarya did in her just-released international project 'The Last Legion'.

Celina has just completed another international project called 'Love Has No Language'.

'It's directed by first-timer Ken Khan who was involved with the 'Lord Of The Rings' project. It's an out-and-out romantic film.'

Celina is candid enough to admit she didn't get along too well with her Australian co-actor Ben Mitchell, a TV star from the soaps 'Shortland Streets' and 'Neighbours'.

'Out there in New Zealand they look for a hectic social life after work. I've gone through late night partying in college. I don't need that any more. I'm very much a home bird, very dull and ordinary. So, yes, Ben and I just faced the camera and went our separate ways.'

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service