It is now known by one and all that Aishwariya Rai will be essaying the role of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in a film on Taj Mahal being produced by Sir Ben Kingsley. It is also known that Bipasha Basu has been roped in to play her daughter in the movie. The latest is that Ash is not willing to share screen space with Bipasha in the movie.

Apparently, it is a trick used by many actors in the past, when playing an older man or woman. In recent times, Preity Zinta used the trick when she agreed to play mother to Hrithik Roshan in Krrish. She was never seen on the screen together with her son Hrithik. The logic for Ash is that if she and Bipasha are not seen together on the screen, one doesn't really see them as mother and daughter. Kingsley had discussed the script with Ash during the shooting of the Last Legion. Ash was reportedly thrilled and verbally gave her assent to doing the film. But after the news about her playing mother to Bipasha came out, she was not too happy. She sees Bipasha as a contemporary and does not want to be cast in the senior bracket. So Ash apparently had a word with Kingsley and made clear her objections. She is reported to have told him that while she does not mind playing the role of Bipasha's mother, she will not share any screen space with her. So now Kingsley is in a fix as he has to make substantial changes in his script if he wants both the Indian beauties in the movie.