Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to star opposite SRK in Happy New Year?

The newest rumour is that choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan has approached Aishwarya for the female lead in Happy New Year (HNY) opposite Shah Rukh Khan. The actress has apparently shown interest in the film.

The last time Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan were cast together, they set the box office on fire. That was over a decade back (the film was Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas; 2002). A lot has changed since then. Aishwarya got married, took the famous Bachchan surname, went on a sabbatical and became a mother.

Now, however, amid talks about her making a comeback, the newest rumour is that choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan has approached Aishwarya for the female lead in Happy New Year (HNY) opposite Shah Rukh Khan. The actress has apparently shown interest in the film, but is yet to read the script. According to a source, “Aishwarya apparently wants to read the script before she arrives at any decision. She wants to read it along with the makers and Shah Rukh, once he is done with his present commitments.”

However, even though Aishwarya hasn’t read the script, “she has an idea of the story outline, since her husband Abhishek Bachchan has a prominent role in the film,” the source adds.

As of now, HNY is delayed, since SRK is busy wrapping up the shoot for director Rohit Shetty’s Chennai Express, Meanwhile, the makers of HNY are still busy with the film’s pre-production.

Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Ask her about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan being considered and Farah says, “No. Like I said, I’ve not signed anyone. If I go to their office, it’s because I’m meeting Abhishek. We’re working together and have things to discuss.”

-Shalvi Mangaokar