MUMBAI: Aishwarya Bachchan will be joining the likes of Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer, John Cleese, Andy Garcia and Alfred Molina in Columbia Pictures and MGM’s upcoming comedy The Pink Panther 2.

Aishwarya Bachchan along with Andy Garcia and Alfred Molina will be playing detectives and experts from around the world who, with Steve Martin (Inspector Clouseau), join forces as an international “dream team” of investigators.

Martin reprises his role as the famed, bumbling Inspector Clouseau, and Reno and Mortimer re-team with Martin as Ponton and Nicole in the sequel. Cleese joins the cast, taking on the role of chief inspector Dreyfus.

The movie is slated for release on 13 February, 2009. The announcement was made by Columbia Pictures presidents of production Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach and MGM senior executive vice president, finance and corporate development Charles Cohen.

When several famous artifacts from around the world – including the priceless diamond, the Pink Panther – turn up missing, it is up to Clouseau and the team to retrieve the stolen items and catch the thief behind it all.

The film will be directed by Harald Zwart, written by Scott Neustadter and Mike Weber and Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel and Steve Martin, produced by Robert Simonds, and executive produced by Ira Shuman.

Belgrad said, “We’re thrilled with the way this film has come together. With John Cleese, Andy Garcia, Alfred Molina, and Aishwarya joining Steve Martin, Jean Reno, and Emily Mortimer, we have a world-class cast for our sequel. We believe Pink Panther 2 will be a great addition to our 2009 slate.”

The film is being overseen by Columbia executives Elizabeth Cantillon and DeVon Franklin.

“Steve Martin has successfully re-energized the Pink Panther franchise and with this new dynamic cast, Pink Panther 2 is destined to be a commercial success and one of the most highly anticipated films in 2009,” said Cohen.