Hollywood trade sources have refuted reports that the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai is acting in the new Asterix and Obelix film.

Reports in this regard appeared in several sections of the media that Ash stars in the film, which also stars martial arts star Jean Claude van Damme.

The sources said the film, shooting for which is scheduled to begin in March, does not star Ash.

”The movie is set to begin filming around March 2006 in Tunisia and Morocco without the Bollywood Beauty, ” the sources said.

Earlier media reports had said Ash was tipped to act in the new Asterix and Obelix film.

The reports, that appeared in several sections of the media during the international film festival of India in Goa in November, had said that an entirely new part may be written for the Indian beauty in the film version of ‘Asterix and Obelix at the Olympic games’, which does not have any main female characters.

The 70-million budget film will have Van Damme playing the Roman legionary gluteus Maximus, who represents Rome at the games.

The premiere of the Hindi version of ‘Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra’ was held at the Goa international film festival of India (IFFI) on December 3 as part of the beach cinema.