Celina Jaitley refused it, Hrithik Roshan found it hardly exciting but made Bachchan Bahu Aishwarya sign MGM's The Pink Panther 2?

Ash has been cast as a detective assisting the bumbling French police detective Jacques Clouseau, played by Steve Martin in the film. The role was earlier offered to Celina but she refused to accept it saying she hardly had anything to do in the film.

However, it is possible that she agreed to do a minor role in The Pink Panther 2 because the film features A-list actors and is targeted at a world wide audience. Her motivation to do a minor role in The Last Legion, which features Hollywood stars Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley, may have been similar.

It is also possible that Ash's role in the film has been enhanced to go with her standing and stature in the industry.

We also hear that Hrithik Roshan, earlier, refused was to play Inspector Clouseau's assistant Vicente, a role that is now being played by Andy Garcia.

Sources claim Hrithik declined the offer after reading his part. "Hrithik is a huge fan of Steve Martin and was excited to work with him, but the role offered was not substantial and didn't excite him much. He politely informed the producers that he wouldn't be able to do it," he says.

A source says the reason Ash accepted the role was because Hrithik was being considered for the film.

"Ash had been informed by her agent that Hrithik might play a part in the film. She didn't know he had backed out," he says, adding, "Ash is very disappointed that Hrithik is not doing the film. She was excited about working with him in a Hollywood film."