Mumbai: Popular Bollywood heroine Aishwarya Rai has earned the distinction of being the first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes international film festival, starting in France from May 14.

The actress has given her consent to the president of the festival Gilly Jacob to attend the festival as member of the jury, sources close to the actress said.

Her award winning film 'Devdas', in which she portrayed the role of Paro, had a special screening at the Cannes festival last year.

Meanwhile, the actress had a meeting with the London-based agents of the studio making James Bond movies before she was discharged from the Hinduja hospital.

"We had a satisfying meeting with the top Indian heroine and if all goes well, she would certainly play the lead role in the next James Bond movie opposite Pierce Brosnan," they said before leaving for London on April 9.

"Aishwarya will be coming to London sometime next month to finalise the project," they added.

PTI