Freida Pinto not cast as Bond girl

NEW YORK, March 23 (UPI) -- Freida Pinto's publicist says the Indian actress has not signed on to play Daniel Craig's love interest in the next James Bond picture, contrary to rumor.

Pinto is best known in the West for her work in the Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire."

"It is of course very flattering to even be rumored to be part of a Bond film but she has certainly NOT been approached for the role of the next Bond girl opposite Daniel Craig as yet," Divya Tejuja, Pinto's official representative, told the New York Daily News by e-mail Monday night.

The 23rd James Bond movie -- which will be Craig's third outing as the suave secret agent 007 -- is to be released in 2011.