Aishwarya Rai booked for 2009

It is going to be a very busy year for Aishwarya Rai. She not only has Mani Ratnam's gruelling Ravan with husband Abhishek Bachchan to complete, she also begins work on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next movie, with Hrithik Roshan, to be shot in Goa.

But before that she goes into filmmaker Vipul Shah's next film with Akshay Kumar in the lead. Both Vipul and Akshay, who are co-producing the film, were very keen to get Aishwarya for what they describe as a genre-breaking drama.

Aishwarya has also signed up Excel Entertainment's untitled thriller to be directed by Abhinay Deo, who is currently busy shooting his directorial debut Delhi Belly. For the film, Aishwarya will once again team up with hubby Abhishek.

Confirming the news, Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment said: "It would be a very stylish thriller to be shot entirely in Greece, Thailand, Istanbul and London.

"My director Abhinay Deo and I want a particular look for the film. We're trying to get the DOP (director of photography) of the new Nike international commercial. If not, there's Jason West who shot our Rock On!. He can capture that subtle sleek look which the subject demands. We want the film's visual quality to be something never experienced by our audience."

After Ravan and Sarkar Raj this will be Ash's third film with Abhishek post marriage