Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai is tipped to act in the new Asterix and Obelix film, which has also in the cast martial arts star Jean Claude van Damme.

An entirely new part may be written for the Indian star in the film version of 'Asterix and Obelix at the Olympic Games', which does not have any main female characters.

There is no news about what role would Aishwarya Rai play in the film, which is slated for release in 2007 or 2008 coinciding with the Beijing Olympics.

Asterix fans around the globe will see a new Gaul hero in place of the affable Christian Clavier, who is not returning for the live action film based on the comic book by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.

Famous French actor Gerard Depardieu will be back as the mehir-carrying Obelix in the film, which is expected to be his last.

Depardieu is reported to be "in the process of stopping filming".

Van Damme will be playing the Roman legionary Gluteus Maximus, who represents Rome at the Games.

The 70-million budget film, which is in the pre-production stage although Uderzo has yet to give his final approval for the project, should have as director Frederic Foresier in place of Alain Chabat.

Tunisia and Morocco, the location for the previous film 'Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra', have been chosen for shooting, which is slated to begin next year.

In 'Asterix at the Olympic Games', the Gauls send their heroes to the Olympics while the Romans send legionary Gluteus Maximus. The Roman officials ban the magic potion saying it is an artificial stimulant leaving Asterix and Obelix to compete on their own wits.

The premiere of the Hindi version of 'Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra' is scheduled to be held at the Goa International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on December 3 as part of the beach cinema.

The original French film will be screened on December 2. The film's director Alain Chabat and actress Noemie Lenoir, a model for French cosmetics giant L'Oreal, are arriving in Goa next week for the IFFI screenings.