Aishwarya Rai in 'The Rising'!

Mumbai, Aug 31 (IANS) Aishwarya Rai in "Mangal Pandey - The Rising"?

It is hard to believe but that is how the film is being sold to British audiences. Many of the publicity hoardings of Ketan Mehta's historical carry Aishwarya's name.

In fact a popular British website, www.cineworld.co.uk, very clearly mentions her name, not once but twice, along with the film's leading stars Aamir Khan, Toby Stephens, Rani Mukherjee and Amisha Patel.

It must be noted that Aishwarya had been almost finalized for the role of Jwala, the widow rescued from the Sati funeral pyre by a British officer.

But Aishwarya declined when the makers refused to give her more than a bare outline of her character and plot.

Amisha Patel happily stepped into the role.

While Aishwarya shrugs and laughs off this desperate attempt to draw reluctant audiences into theatres, her US agent Simone Sheffield is far more vocal about the attempt to mislead the public.

Says Sheffield: "'The Rising' is the film that Aishwarya refused! Producers and distributors are selling the film in the UK as an Aishwarya Rai starrer. It is sad that they have to resort to this to get the audience into the theatres."

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Mangal Pandey - The Rising