Ash preferred Ashutosh Gowariker to Will Smith!

Actress Aishwarya Rai preferred Ashutosh Gowariker to Hollywood actor Will Smith. Aishwarya apparently refused Will Smith to do Ashutosh Gowariker's next 'Akbar Jodha'.

Will Smith wanted Ash to play lead role in his next, however the dates he demanded from Ash, clashed with her 'Akbar Jodha' schedules. And Aishwarya wasted no time to say 'no' to Will Smith.

In a recent interview, Ashutosh Gowariker said, he felt honored that Ash didn't opt out of 'Akbar Jodha' for Will Smith's film. "I'm glad," said Ashutosh Gowariker.

In 'Akbar Jodha', Hrithik Roshan will play opposite Aishwarya Rai. Ashutosh Gowariker said in this interview, "No one can fit the roles of Akbar and Jodhabai as Hrithik and Aishwarya do".

UTV will produce the historical project, budgeted around Rs. 39 crore.