If grapevine is to be believed, Karan Johar is toying with the idea of finally working with.

Aishwarya Rai, with whom he hasn’t made a single project in his over decade-long career.

"Karan said that Aishwarya is his ideal heroine and all the scripts that he writes are keeping her in mind.

He also said that various reasons have veered them from working together. But he is hoping that it is the right time.

That he gets her to work in his production sometime soon," a source, who overheard Karan’s conversation with director.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, told IANS on condition of anonymity. The two filmmakers were discussing Aishwarya at Sonali Bendre’s birthday party Dec 31.

Tinsel Town’s original ‘Dreamgirl’ and veteran actor, Hema Malini seems to be impressed with Aishwarya’s beauty and acting. Hema Malini who was in the capital to announce the winners of Big Bazaar’s ‘Meet the Dreamgirl’ contest feels that the one actor who deserves the title of “Dreamgirl” at present is Aishwarya Rai.

She says, “An actress’ life is the same, nothing has changed. It is what it was even 20 years back. They have to work very hard, make themselves look beautiful and need a lot of dedication to remain at the top.”

The 60 year old beautiful actor who loves to dance does not like the concept of ‘zero figure’ and feels that an attractive face and a flat belly are enough for looking good on screen.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was last seen in Hollywood film PINK PANTHER 2 which came to India but Ash wasn’t the lead actress in it. So how long will fans of her Bollywood films have to wait to see the beauty set the screen on fire again?

Ash had two releases in 2008: JODHAA AKBAR in February and SARKAR RAJ in June. Both the films did well at the box office and Ash’s performance was highly appreciated. Ash, who is currently in Delhi where she received India’s most prestigious Padmashri award will return to Mumbai after some days to resume shooting for Vipul Shah’s ACTION REPLAY.

But before that she was shooting with her hubby for Mani Ratnam’s RAAVAN which is set to release at the end of 2009 and is most likely going to be Ash’s next Hindi release after SARKAR RAJ. The film also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Vikram, Govinda and Manisha Koirala.

Aishwarya rated as the most bankable Bollywood star in Hollywood

Even as Aishwarya Rai’s ‘Pink Panther 2’ faced harsh criticisms from the media and critics, the film gave a true international stepping to the Bachchan Bahu. There are a lot of promising international projects in her kitty at present, first with actress and chat-show hostess Tyra Banks, then a project with Will Smith who has been craving to cast Ash right from the time he offered her Hitch and the recent 7 Pounds and also the long-pending project Chaos with Meryl Streep, are just to name a few.

And now, the Forbes magazine has just voted Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan the most bankable star from Bollywood in Hollywood. With this Ash races ahead of Bollywood biggies like Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Irrfan Khan as the Forbes’ “Most Valuable Actors”.

Ask the lady to comment on this recently acquired international acknowledgement and this was what she reacted from Kolkata, “Wow! Me the most bankable Bollywood star in Hollywood? Thank you! I must confess that any acknowledgement of hard work makes me feel content. In all humility I want to thank all those who feel I’m bankable.”

Gorgeous actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan attends the premiere of the ‘Pink Panther 2’ on February 3 at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City.