Aishwarya says had turned down 'Dostana' offer

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan declined an offer to act in the Bollywood film 'Dostana' starring her husband Abhishek over fears their real-life relationship would overshadow the film’s gay theme.

Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham pretend to be a gay couple in the film, which opened in cinemas on Friday.

Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra, plays the female lead in ‘Dostana’, who works in a fashion magazine and shares her Miami apartment with the pseudo-gay couple.

“The chemistry, as it were, was between Abhishek and John,” Rai, also a former Miss World, told reporters at a Mumbai event on Thursday.

“I didn’t want people to get into that space of expecting a romance between me and Abhishek or for them to be disappointed that I walk off with some other man at the end of the day.”

Despite its overtly homosexual theme, the film got mostly positive reviews from critics and has done well among urban audiences in a country that outlaws homosexuality.

Rai is currently shooting for a Mani Ratnam film in the jungles of Kerala -- a project that unites her with her actor-husband.