Aishwarya Rai Rejects 'Happy New Year' For Not Being Cast Opposite Abhishek Bachchan?

Bollywood actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai has reportedly rejected the offer of playing the female lead in Farah Khan's upcoming venture titled "Happy New Year", for not being cast opposite her hubby Abhishek Bachchan.

Recently, it was reported that Aishwarya will make her film comeback post her maternity break opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Farah's next project, for which Abhishek Bachchan was also roped in.

According to reports, Farah who had cast Shah Rukh in the male lead was keen to cast Aishwarya as the hit pair had not shared screen space after Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Devdas".

Reports of Farah approaching Aishwarya for the offer were followed by rumours that the actress had shown interest in the film and would take up the project after going through the script.

But recent buzz is that Aishwarya rejected the offer as she wanted herself to be paired opposite Abhishek and not Shah Rukh.

"Yes, the film was offered to Aishwarya, and ideally she might have considered it, but the film also stars her hubby Abhishek Bachchan, and he isn't paired opposite her. That was her reservation," a source close to the actress was quoted by DNA as saying.

"She believes that if they come together in a film, they should be paired opposite each other, else the audience might reject the film."

Ever since Aishwarya started making public appearances post the birth of her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan, rumours were rife that the actress will make a comeback on the silver screen soon. The rumours gained traction after she gave out two sizzling stage performances - one at the 50th edition of Ponds Femina Miss India and the other at the Times Of India Film Awards.

Earlier, it was rumoured that Aishwarya will star opposite "Student of the Year Fame" Varun Dhawan.