'Nobody can replace Aishwarya'

Cutting down speculation that Aishwarya Rai is having "second thoughts" about doing Sarkar 2, Ram Gopal Varma gives detail on his "first sequel ever".

The film which starts shooting in June 2007 has already acquired the stars' dates. "Amitji, Abhishek and Aishwarya have confirmed their dates. There's no question of Aishwarya having second thoughts.

She has heard her role and then consented. She plays a very very strong character, far more so than the women in the first part of Sarkar.

You could say, Aishwarya is as much a part of the central drama as the Bachchans. I went to her because I needed a leading lady of her stature. I wouldn't waste my time and hers offering her a role that anyone else could do."

Written by Abbas Tyrewala Sarkar 2 carries the story of the desi Corleone family forward.

Laughs Ramu, "But you must understand Sarkar 2 won't be akin to Godfather 2 in the sense that it won't have the son taking over the family business from the father.

Amitji will continue to be a powerful force in the drama. I had openly acknowledged my debt to Francis Coppola's Godfather. Sarkar wouldn't have been possible without The Godfather. But Sarkar 2 will owe no debt to Godfather 2."

Elaborating on the plot Ramu says Sarkar 2 will go into the politics of rural Maharashtra and into the power corridors of Delhi.

In this prolonged seasoned of remakes and sequels is Ramu jumping into both bandwagons to be fashionably marketable.

"For your information Sarkar 2 was conceived with Amitji and Abhishek even when Sarkar was being made. Finally the audience doesn't care where a film comes from.

If Lage Raho Munnabhai has done well it's not because it's a sequel. But because it's a terrific entertainer.

I don't want audiences to come to see Sarkar 2 only because they liked the earlier film."