Source: Mid Day
By: Tushar Joshi
Date: August 14, 2007
Andy Garcia has snapped up the role he refused
Thanks, but no thanks! Hrithik Roshan
Hollywood studio MGM's untitled Pink Panther project has been in news for its cast of Bollywood actors. The latest is that Hrithik Roshan was to play Inspector Clouseau's (Steve Martin) assistant Vicente, a role that is now being played by Andy Garcia.
Sources claim Hrithik declined the offer after reading his part.
“Hrithik is a huge fan of Steve Martin and was excited to work with him, but the role offered was not substantial. He politely informed the producers that he wouldn’t be able to do it,” he says.
Not exciting enough
Confirming the news, Rakesh Roshan says, “Yes. Hrithik was offered Andy Garcia’s role, but it didn’t excite him much.”
Interestingly, sometime back Celina Jaitly claimed she had been approached for a role that later went to Ash.
A source says the reason Ash accepted the role was because Hrithik was being considered for the film.
“Ash had been informed by her agent that Hrithik might play a part in the film. She didn’t know he had backed out,” he says, adding, “Ash is very disappointed that Hrithik is not doing the film. She was excited about working with him in a Hollywood film.”
Dream team
The new Pink Panther will also star John Cleese as Chief Inspector Dreyfuss, along with Steve Martin, Jean Reno and Emily Mortimer.
Sources claim Ash will play the role of a member of the ‘dream team’ of detectives recruited to trace a group of thieves who’ve stolen the valuable Pink Panther diamond. The film is scheduled for a 2009 release.