Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

Reacting to the names of Celina Jaitley and Shilpa Shetty cropping up for the role in last few weeks, agencies representing Aishwarya Rai have stated on record that she was the first and the only choice for the role of Sophie in THE PINK PANTHER.

This hasn't been taken too kindly by Celina's spokesperson from US. She reacts, "I will not be able to release the emails that prove the fact that Celina was approached long before Ash. This is confidential information."

Talking about the standing of MGM studio, she says, "All I can say is that MGM is distributing the film and as everyone knows the company is no longer a REAL studio."

She adds, "Celina is a leading lady and even if she decides to take risks she will NOT do that with films that may not have a credible stamp in the industry," hence making her thoughts clear about THE PINK PANTHER as a project in itself.

Talking about Steve Martin she says, "Steve Martin is great and at this point in his career he is able to make a decision to work with a director such as Harald Zwart without a strong track record. However, Celina is being represented by the best and her decisions are very calculated these days."

Meanwhile Shilpa Shetty's spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar has come down heavily on the entire incident and has even revealed the email from the casting agency 'ILENE STARGER CASTING'. The email clearly specifies that Shilpa Shetty was indeed approached two months ago for the role of Sophie in THE PINK PANTHER.

Justifying the reason why there was no announcement earlier in this regard, he says "We are professional people and we deemed fit not to boast, as we decided not to do the film. This clarification only comes in the wake of this FALSE AND FAKE STORY which aims to mar Shilpa Shetty's reputation."

Kya sach hai, kya jhooth? The ball is in Ash's court now!