Give this to Ram Gopal Varma. He has his finger on the controversial pulse all the time and unerringly stages a coup, especially on the casting front.

The shrewd filmmaker that he is, he also understands that the only way to get his favourite actor, Amitabh Bachchan, in his film even if he is not the pivotal character is to get his son Abhishek to play the lead. Ditto for son Abhishek.

The best way to get Abhishek though not in a prominent role is to have him play second fiddle to the female lead to his wife Aishwarya!

Whatever the strategic moves of RGV may have been, it has led to Sarkar 2 boasting a sizzling cast where Aishwarya gets added to the Sarkar pairing of Amitabh and Abhishek. In the sequel, Aishwarya the new Bachchan bahu plays the shrewd and manipulative wife of the new godfather, Abhishek.

The sequel to Sarkar begins shooting next month, and will show Amitabh the erstwhile patriarch reduced to an advisory role. Weakened by an ageing body, he confines himself to the house while his son runs the family business and deliver his brand of vigilante justice, very much like Godfather 2 in which Al Pacino takes over from Marlon Brando.

It is understood that Amitabh will be shown as reduced to a helpless old man who has only his experiences to hand down to his son, the new godfather. Wife Aishwarya will be the new don's backbone and whenever the going gets tough for Abhishek he leans on his tough wife. Abhishek will be shown struggling to retain his father's vice-like grip on the underworld businesses of the Nagre family.

Naturally Aishwarya's character is of paramount importance in the sequel where her manipulative strength and womanly cunning will be displayed in her first role with some negative shades. Sources made it clear however that Aishwarya's character does not completely break out of the mould of a Bollywood leading lady.

Not a totally negative character, she will strike a balance between her household work and the family business. Her character loves her family, but at the same time can be ruthless when it comes to the crunch.