by Subhash K Jha

After shooting in Rio de Janeiro for Dhoom 2 and dancing like a dream at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the mesmeric Ash was back in India...exhausted and almost speechless, and it's not just because of the massive ovation she received for her stunning performance at the Commonwealth games.

"I could barely speak. The doctors diagnosed it as laryngitis. Though my voice took some time to get normal I had only a few days off before I proceeded to Lucknow for Umrao Jaan. So no time to recover as such," sighs one of the world's most beautiful women.

Has laryngitis become fashionable after Karan Johar got it? Ash laughs, "I was joking about it with him. But I must say I was left speechless by the kind of warmth I was given at Melbourne. It was way beyond my expectations. Over there Bride & Prejudice is still being talked-about. It feels good when one's efforts are rewarded."

Right before Melbourne Ash was shooting with Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan in Rio de Janeiro for Dhoom 2. "We had ourselves a ball. It was great fun to be in a unit where work was being done with as little stress as possible."

And now Aishwarya is stressed out about the American project with Will Smith. "I really do want to do the film with Will. When we met we really hit it off. And the subject that he has in mind does sound very interesting for me as an actor and as someone who wants to be part of films that create a global impact.

Unfortunately Will wants to make the film during the time when I'll be shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa-Akbar. But I'm keen to do Will's film."

Efforts are on to resolve the dates issue so that Will and Ashu can share Ash's time. Isn't she stretching her schedules a little too far. And isn't the effort taking its toll on her ?

Ash seems to have lost a lot of weight. "Not at all! I don't know why people keep saying that. In fact I haven't lost weight at all since I trained for Dhoom 2. After that I have had no time to do anything to look after myself."

Incidentally Priyanka Chopra has the same trainer Deepika Mehta for Don that Aishwarya had for Dhoom 2.

Small –and slim—world.