Aish getting into shape for ''Dhoom 2'

Aishwarya Rai getting into shape for 'Dhoom 2'

She is concentrating on a sleek look to go with her "Catwoman"-like villainy in the sequel to the hit biker film of last year.

But the actress is tightlipped about her role and only says: "All I can tell you is it would be nothing like anything you've seen me do before."

Apparently, Rai's contract stipulates that she will slip into a bikini in "Dhoom 2".

Yash Chopra, producer of the film, laughs off the rumour and says: "I don't think our contract can specify such things. But, yes, the role does require Aishwarya to convey oodles of sensuality. She has asked for a couple of months to get into shape.

"We (at Yashraj Films) are very clear about every character in every script and what's required of the actors. Before 'Dhoom', Esha Deol was specifically briefed about the look and the attitude that she needed to cultivate. Esha readily agreed. And look at what 'Dhoom' did to her career!"

So is it makeover time for Aishwarya Rai? And will "Dhoom 2" revamp her image?

Murli Manohar, producer of Aishwarya's hard-hitting real-life drama "Provoked", doesn't agree: "It's not required. Aishwarya is already doing such a wide variety of roles. She doesn't need a makeover."

J.P. Dutta also feels the same: "I feel she has a truly international stature and can go to any level if guided correctly. The very fact that I want her to play both 'Umrao Jaan' and 'Gayatri Devi' proves how much faith I've in her range."

Last month, Abhishek Bachchan, Rimii Sen, Bipasha Basu and Uday Chopra started shooting for "Dhoom 2", which Yash Chopra says will be bigger, much more lavish and dazzling and many sizes larger than life than "Dhoom" that gave a fillip to at least three actors' careers: Abhishek Bachchan, Esha Deol and John Abraham.

Though John has been eliminated from the sequel, Esha is very much around. The film's arch-villain Hrithik Roshan and seductive moll Aishwarya Rai join the cast later.

Both actors intend to enjoy the process of turning negative and have worked out their characters' looks in detail in consultation with producer Aditya Chopra and director Sanjay Gadhvi.