Aishwarya Rai is the most sought after Indian actor in Hollywood, according to a senior Hollywood Insider.

Paul Schrader, former scriptwriter to Martin Scorsese, who has written some of Scorsese’s big films like Bringing Out The Dead, The Last Temptation Of Christ, Raging Bull and Taxi Driver revealed this fact about Aishwarya Rai.

“The biggest and probably the only name Hollywood’s top people want to cast from India is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She is the only one who can be cast in the lead with a Hollywood actor. Her beauty appeals even to the Western minds, “ he said.

“Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan and others are well-known in Hollywood, but it is Aishwarya that filmmakers want to cast because she fits the bill completely. She has great screen presence. I can tell you for a fact that big banners are trying very hard to get her dates,” Schrader told After Hours on the sidelines of the 10th Osian’s film festival being held in New Delhi.

Aishwarya Rai has pursued a Hollywood career seriously. Aishwarya Rai has acted in several big international projects like Pink Panther 2 alongside ace comedian Steve Martin, the Ben Kingsley starrer The Last Legion, Jag Mundhra’s Provoked, Paul Mayega Berges’ The Mistress of Spices and Gurinder Chadha’s Bride and Prejudice. She also has two other Hollywood offers as of now – Singularity that has Mummy series star Brendan Fraser and the movie, Bhopal. According to rumors, Aishwarya will be teaming up with Ben Kingsley once again for his ambitious project on Taj Mahal.

Aishwarya Rai has also turned down many hot acting roles like the recently released Hancock starring Will Smith. But she is still the most popular face of Bollywood in the West as she does the occasional role in Movies as well as model for various luxury items and cosmetic brands. Time will tell whether the future will see her as an actress with international appeal, in both East and West