Aishwarya Rai was Will Smith’s first choice for Hancock!!!

The gorgeous Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was Will Smith's first choice for Hancock over Oscar winning Charlize Theron, but the actress declined.

Will Smith, who by his own admission a great fan of Ash, is not disappointed and believes that they will share good on-screen chemistry.

"I would love to work with Aishwarya. She is gorgeous. I had even offered her roles with me. In fact, for Hancock also, she was my first preference over Charlize. I received denials all the times, may be she had some justified problems. But of course, I will do anything to work with Aishwarya," he said in an e-mail interview.

Smith is in love with Bollywood and believes that the future of international cinema lies in a conjugal tie between the world's two largest entertainment industries.

"I think a marriage between Bollywood and Hollywood would yield outstanding results. I would love to work in an Indian film. I have seen a couple of Bollywood movies, which had impressed me a lot. I love Indian cinema and its actors. Their energy level is just incompatible. The songs and dances in Bollywood movies are just amazing. I also had a word with Karan Johar. Let's see what's there in store," says the actor.

Already popular among Indian cine-fans, the actor is all praise for the Indian audience and hopes his latest flick will also enjoy similar love from them.

"I thank them with all my heart for watching my films with a keen interest and hope the same for Hancock too. Indian audience are very sensible and I expect that my film will receive warmth in manifolds."

Touched by Indian hospitality, Smith says he had a fun time during his last visit here and would love to visit India again.

"I received a lot of love and a hearty welcome from all in India. I would surely love to be back to India and try and deal out something really good. The one word which I could learn very easily and which touched my heart is for all the Indians - Namastey India!" he says.

In Hancock, Smith plays the character of a superhero who saves countless lives, but in the due course also unwittingly inflicts jaw-dropping damages to public property!

Directed by renowned Hollywood film director Peter Berg, Hancock is an action genre made on a budget of over $150 million. Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron and actor Jason Bateman also star in the movie.

Abhishek to Aishwarya: Please speak softly!!!

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is known for her giggling.

But at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards function in Bangkok last month, she got into much higher spirits, say eye-witnesses. Read on..

The Bachchans were staying at the plush Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok.

Just before the award ceremony, Abhishek Bachchan and Ash were seen coming down the steps of the hotel. The couple was accompanied by actor Kunal Kapoor.

Eye-witness said that Ash seemed very high-spirited and was talking loudly. Too loud for the comfort of her husband Abhishek, apparently.

For, Abhishek rebuked her for her loud volume and asked her to quieten down. Meanwhile, Kunal Kapoor, obviously embarrassed at the turn of events, hurriedly bid goodbye to the couple and walked away.

After that too, Ash was in no mood to listen!

Says the eye-witness, “She continued with her extra-loud self-expression, until Abhishek took her to the lobby and made her sit down there, to calm her down. For a while, things were rather quiet, until Ash suddenly decided to pipe up all over again.

She continued arguing at the top of her voice, until Abhishek, sensing that the situation was getting embarrassingly out of control, beckoned his personal security guards and asked them to escort his wife to her room.”

And all was well with the Bachchan dignity all over again!

Aishwarya Rai in India Today Conclave