Aishwarya Rai is now set to star in national award winning director Madhur Bhandarkar's film.

Entitled "Corporate", it will be a scathing hard-hitting no-holds-barred look at the enigmatic and cannibalistic world of entrepreneurship.

After securing tremendous performances out of Tabu in "Chandni Bar" and Konkona SenSharma in "Page 3", it's Aishwarya's turn to get into the Bhandarkar mould.

Says the revved-up director: "You could say 'Corporate' will do to the business world what 'Page 3' did to the glamorous social circles of Mumbai. In fact 'Corporate' is the second part of my proposed trilogy.

"The third part which I'll make after 'Corporate' will be called 'Signal'. It will take a mercilessly honest look at the people we encounter at the traffic lights of Mumbai - the street children, the beggars, paper sellers, eunuchs..."

Why Aishwarya for "Corporate"?

"It's the role of a clever, scheming, ambitious and ruthless entrepreneur. The character goes through innumerable stages of growth and change. It's a fantastic role. I wanted someone with the personality of a complete woman. Ash fitted the bill perfectly."

Ash's character is based on a real-life entrepreneur. "But on record I'd just like to say she's as similar to a real-life character as Bachchan saab in 'Sarkar'," Bhandarkar muses mischievously.

Last week he met Aishwarya. She loved the idea and has agreed to do the film. Says Bhandarkar: "Now only her dates need to be worked out. This we're in the process of doing."

For Aishwarya the opportunity to delve into yet another flesh-and-blood character comes close on the heels of "Provoked" where she plays a battered wife.

Bhandarkar has been keen to work with Ash right from the time he shot to fame with "Chandni Bar".

"And why not?" he shoots back. "Going by what I've achieved with other female actors like Tabu, Raveena Tandon and Konkona, don't you think I can work wonders with Aishwarya?"