Ash as Benazir Bhutto

Aishwarya Rai has been approached to essay the role of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Sources reveal that Ash is one of the prime contenders for the role.

It is reliably learnt that UTV is producing the project.

Neelesh Misra, lyricist for films like Jism, Johnny Gaddaar, Jannat will pen the script.

He has also written the screenplay for Sanjay Gupta’s Alibaug.

Misra confirms, “I have been offered the project, but haven’t accepted it yet.

The producers are contacting the Bhutto family before they go ahead with it.”

A source reveals, “There is a lot of homework to be done on the film.

At the moment, talks are in progress with the Pakistani government and other officials to get permission to go ahead with the film.

Ash has been approached to play the role because she has the appeal to essay it.”

Shabana missed out
A while back, British-Pakistani author-playwright and filmmaker, Tariq Ali, had expressed a desire to make a movie based on Benazir’s life.

It is learnt that Ali had completed the screenplay for his biopic with Shabana Azmi playing Benazir. The project, however, got shelved.