by Subhash K Jha

If there was one thing that Hollywood superstar Will Smith wanted it was to meet Aishwarya Rai. Did he or didn't he get his wish?

The truth is, Ash and Will had a very private meeting together in February during which the two hit it off like a house on fire.

So strong was the chemistry between them that at the end of the hour-long meeting Will Smith's business manager James Lassiter offered Ash the lead opposite Will Smith in a major film to be produced later year.

The details are now being worked out. Ash's dates are being looked into. But the Will-Ash project is certainly on.

It must be remembered here that Ash was supposed to co-star with Will Smith in last year's comedy Hitch. Director Andy Tennant confirmed this fact when this writer spoke to him.

This time Will is determined to have his way. His meeting with Ash sealed the deal. Says an eyewitness to the Will-Ash meeting. "To say they hit it off instantly would be an understatement. It was clear from the start of their meeting that Ash and Will were going to be buddies.

The sound of their combined laughter could be heard all the way to the ground floor. After a point it stopped looking like two internationally known actors and colleagues meeting up.

Ash and Will were like two buddies cracking up at their jokes. When Will's business manager offered Ash a role she was all for it, more so when she heard the story line. Ash really likes the sound of the project."

Will's wife Jada Pankett who couldn't accompany him because she was playing with her music band in the US, received a beautiful Sari from Ash. "It was a lovely gesture and Will seemed so touched," said the eyewitness.

The Ash-Will project should be her next international project after Jagmohan Mundra's Provoked (ready for release) and Doug Lefler's The Lost Legion.