Ash may star opposite Will Smith

Says an eyewitness to the Will-Ash meeting: "To say they hit it off instantly would be an understatement. It was clear from the start of their meeting that Ash and Will were going to be buddies. Their laughter could be heard all the way to the ground floor! When Will's business manager offered Ash a role, she was all for it, more so when she heard the story."

It might be recalled that Ash was supposed to co-star with Smith in last year's comedy Hitch. Director Andy Tennant had confirmed this when this writer spoke to him.

This time, Will is determined to have his way.

Smith's wife Jada Pankett-Smith could not accompany him on his India tour because she was playing music with her band in the US.

She received a sari from Ash. "It was a lovely gesture and Will seemed so touched," the eyewitness added.

This will be Ash's next international project, after Jagmohan Mundra's Provoked and Doug Lefler's The Lost Legion.