Aishwarya Krishnaraj Rai
Date
of Birth
|
|
Birth
Name
|
Aishwarya
Krishnaraj Rai
|
Nicknames
|
Ash
Gullu |
Height
|
5' 7" (1.7 m)
|
Born into a traditional south Indian
family, Aishwarya started modeling at a young age. This green-blue-eyed beauty
appeared in advertisements for many prestigious firms; the ones that brought
her into the limelight were the garden sari and the Pepsi ad. Crowned Miss
India 1994 runner-up, she was a hot favorite in the run for miss world title,
which she won, her beauty and charm made her India's darling. Ash stormed into
the Indian movie industry, where she has proven herself a brilliant &
genuine actress. Her performance in Iruvar (1997)
was critically acclaimed, and she won the Screen best female debutant award for
her role in ...Aur Pyaar Ho
Gaya (1997). She was adored in movies like Taal, Hum Dil De
Chuke Sanam, Devdas, her item number in 'Bunty & Bubbly' had sent waves of
rhythm across the nation. With her successful Bollywood movies &
prestigious Hollywood projects lined up for release it is impossible to ignore
this Indian diva in international scenes.
Aishwarya was an architecture
student before she entered modeling as her part-time job. She was best known
for her Pepsi commercial with Mahima Chaudhry. With her green-grey eyes, she was already approached by big
names in India's film industry, where they offered her starring roles. She
rejected the film offers since she aimed to be an architect. However, fate had
other things in store for her after she was crowned Miss World 1994. Soon after
her winning, again she received offers to star in movies. In Southern India,
she was best known for her role as Madhumita/Veishnavi in Jeans (1998)
and as Meenakshi in Kandukondain
Kandukondain (2000). She won the
Filmfare Award for best actress for her performance in Straight from the
Heart (1999) as Ajay Devgn's wife who is in love with another man. She also won rave
reviews for her performance as a rape victim in Hamara Dil Aapke
Paas Hai (2000).
Aishwarya Rai (Ash) is one of
Bollywood's pre-eminent leading ladies. This Indian darling burst upon the
world stage when her striking beauty, poise and commanding intelligence won her
the Miss World crown in 1994. This former architecture major soon became one of
India's most famous models, landing a prestigious Pepsi-Cola campaign and
appearing in Vogue Magazine. India's top Bollywood directors were soon lining
up to work with Ash. Her film debut in Mani Ratnam's Iruvar (1997)
received critical acclaim and her performance in ...Aur Pyaar Ho
Gaya (1997), directed by Rahul Rawail, garnered her the Best Female Debutante Award. In 2000 she
was awarded Best Actress by FilmFare and Zee Cine for her work in Sanjay Leela
Bhansali's Straight from the
Heart (1999) in that same year, nominated for Best Supporting
Actress for her special appearance in Aditya Chopra's Mohabbatein (2000).
In 2001 Ash was nominated for FilmFare's Best Actress Award for Satish Kaushik's Hamara Dil Aapke
Paas Hai (2000).
Ash's star continued to rise in 2002, working again with Sajay Leela Bhansali in Devdas(2002), the most ambitious and most successful film in Bollywood history. It became the first Bollywood picture to receive a special screening at that year's Cannes Film Festival and broke box-office records in India and the US.
Ash had even more exciting opportunities in 2003. She became the first Indian actor to be a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. She is also the latest member of the elite L'Oreal Dream Team, joining renowned international beauties Catherine Deneuveand Andie MacDowell as L'Oreal's international ambassador. She graced the covers of India Today and the prestigious TIME Magazine, which also listed her on their list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World Today". She has graced numerous covers worldwide including the US, UK, China, Russia, Israel, United Emerites, Italy, Spain and France. Ash was also listed on Rolling Stone Magazine's annual "Hot List", Hello Magazine's 'Most Attractive Women in the World", Stuff Magazine, FHM magazine, V-Life from Variety Magazine, GQ Magazine, New York Times Magazine, Harper's & Queen and countless others. In 2004 Aishwarya took on the leading role in her first English-language film: Gurinder Chadha's Bride & Prejudice (2004). She also became the first Indian female to be immortalized in wax at the world-famous Madame Tussaud's wax museum in London.
She began 2005 with appearances on 60 Minutes (1968), Late Show with David Letterman (1993) and the most watched television program in the world: "Oprah" (1972)_. Her career continued to grow with roles in _Mistress of Spices (2007)_ for director Paul Mayeda Berges, Jag Mundhra's Provoked: A True Story (2006), Sanjay Gadhvi's Dhoom:2 (2006) and legendary producer Dino De Laurentiis' The Last Legion(2007) opposite Colin Firth and Sir Ben Kingsley and a comic turn as the villainess inSteve Martin's The Pink Panther 2 (2009).
Ash's star continued to rise in 2002, working again with Sajay Leela Bhansali in Devdas(2002), the most ambitious and most successful film in Bollywood history. It became the first Bollywood picture to receive a special screening at that year's Cannes Film Festival and broke box-office records in India and the US.
Ash had even more exciting opportunities in 2003. She became the first Indian actor to be a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. She is also the latest member of the elite L'Oreal Dream Team, joining renowned international beauties Catherine Deneuveand Andie MacDowell as L'Oreal's international ambassador. She graced the covers of India Today and the prestigious TIME Magazine, which also listed her on their list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World Today". She has graced numerous covers worldwide including the US, UK, China, Russia, Israel, United Emerites, Italy, Spain and France. Ash was also listed on Rolling Stone Magazine's annual "Hot List", Hello Magazine's 'Most Attractive Women in the World", Stuff Magazine, FHM magazine, V-Life from Variety Magazine, GQ Magazine, New York Times Magazine, Harper's & Queen and countless others. In 2004 Aishwarya took on the leading role in her first English-language film: Gurinder Chadha's Bride & Prejudice (2004). She also became the first Indian female to be immortalized in wax at the world-famous Madame Tussaud's wax museum in London.
She began 2005 with appearances on 60 Minutes (1968), Late Show with David Letterman (1993) and the most watched television program in the world: "Oprah" (1972)_. Her career continued to grow with roles in _Mistress of Spices (2007)_ for director Paul Mayeda Berges, Jag Mundhra's Provoked: A True Story (2006), Sanjay Gadhvi's Dhoom:2 (2006) and legendary producer Dino De Laurentiis' The Last Legion(2007) opposite Colin Firth and Sir Ben Kingsley and a comic turn as the villainess inSteve Martin's The Pink Panther 2 (2009).
Trivia
Wanted
to study medicine, but circumstances prevented her.
Miss
World 1994.
Runner
up, Miss India 1994
Ambassador
(spokesperson) for Longines watches since 1999.
In
April 2003, she suffered an accident on the sets of Khakee (2004) when a car
driven by a stuntman got out of control, hit her, took her down a crevice, and
slammed her into a cactus plant. She broke a bone in one foot and suffered
severe cuts, and she was rushed to a hospital. The incident rekindled the
discussion about poor safety standards on Bollywood film sets.
The
first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film
Festival.
Has
made over 50 music videos in only seven years.
Despite
the fact that she is adorned with jewelry in her music videos and movies, she
is apparently not too fond of it.
Created
a frenzy at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival when she arrived at the premiere of
her film Devdas (2002) in a coach and
wearing a beautiful yellow-orange-embroidered sari.
Was
originally cast in the role of Jwala in the film The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey(2005), but
dropped out before filming started due to contract problems. The role was later
given to Ameesha Patel.
Loves
collecting watches.
Made
her first commercial for Camlin pencils when she was in the 9th grade.
Was
the face of Coca Cola South Asia as well as the Middle East.
Has
achieved iconic status all over South Asia.
Is
featured in the 2004 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.
In
a poll conducted by Hello magazine, she was voted the number-one attractive
woman of 2003, beating actresses such as Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
In
April 2003, L'Oréal signed her as its new international brand ambassador
(spokesperson).
The
first Bollywood star to appear in Rolling Stone magazine (Issue 932, October 2,
2003)
Gained
20 pounds for Bride & Prejudice (2004) because she
didn't want her character to look like a supermodel and also felt that it would
add a sense of realism to the character.
Is
an ethnic Bunt, like fellow actors Shilpa Shetty and Sunil Shetty. The Bunts are a South Indian
community from Mangalore who mainly speak Tulu, which is Aishwarya's mother
tongue.
Turned
down the role of Mastani in the film Bajirao Mastani (2005).
The
first movie star she ever met was Rekha. Aishwarya was still in high school at
the time and was a model. While at a grocery store with her mother, Aishwarya
was tapped on the shoulder by none other than Rekha herself. Rekha recognized
Aishwarya from her modeling ads. She complimented the young Aishwarya on her
good looks and wished her all the best.
Is
fluent in the languages English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Urdu.
Before
she was famous, she auditioned to do voice-dubbing for a television serial and
was rejected.
Shah Rukh Khan recommended her to
play Kaurwaki in the film Ashoka the Great (2001). But the
director wanted to cast someone who hadn't already been paired with Shahrukh as
a leading lady.
After
winning the title of Miss World in 1994, the host of the event, Richard Steinmetz, actually asked Aishwarya
out. But being a professional, she refused right away.
Sued
the magazine Star and Style for a sum of Rs 20 million (2 crore) for printing
an article claiming that actress Raveena Tandon had caught her and Akshay Kumar in a compromising
position at the poolside of a five- star hotel.
During
the filming of the song 'Dola Re Dola' from the movie Devdas (2002), Aishwarya's
ears were bleeding because to the heavy earrings she had to wear, but she
continued to perform anyway.
Is
a trained classical dancer. She learnt classical dance and music for five years
while in her teens.
Won
the title of Miss Photogenic in the 1994 Miss World Pageant.
Has
won over 100 awards since 1994 when she was 20.
Has
gained a cult following in Pakistan.
Was
listed in Time magazine as one of 100 most influential people in the world (The
2004 TIME 100).
Ran
the Olympic-torch relay in June 2004.
Turned
down a role in The Myth (2005) due to her
touring schedule. The role was eventually given to Mallika Sherawat.
Has
over 17,000 Web sites dedicated to her.
In
2004, Aishwarya became the first Bollywood and Indian actress to have her own
statue at London's Madame Tussauds museum.
Voted
#9 in Harpers and Queen magazine's list of the 100 most beautiful women of
today. (Harpers and Queen, June 6, 2005)
A
tulip produced in 2005 was named for her.
Member
of the jury at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.
When Oprah Winfrey saw Aishwarya's
interview on 60 Minutes (1968), she was so
fascinated by her that she got a hold of Ash and invited her to be a guest on
her show. On April 25, 2005, Aishwarya became the first Indian and South Asian
actress to be featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986).
Director
Andy Tennant offered her a small part in Hitch (2005), but she was
busy filming Bride and Prejudice at the time.
In
the summer of 2005, Mattel released limited-edition Barbie dolls inspired by
Aishwarya and her costumes. They were released only in Britain and sold out
within minutes. These dolls are now considered rare collectibles among fans.
Her
favourite film is Casablanca.
Was
voted number 12 on VH1's 50 Sexiest Actresses of the Last 20 Years. (December
2005)
Roger
Ebert has said he considers her the most beautiful actress in the world.
Was
voted as E's 7th sexiest celebrity in the world
The
first actress from India to get signed on with the American Library Association
and also have a poster made of her for schools and library's all across
America.
Was
originally signed on to play the part of Simmi in Bluffmaster! (2005), but was
replaced without any notice by Priyanka Chopra. Director Rohan Sippy then gave
Aishwarya a "special thanks" in the end credits as an apology.
Turned
down the part of Sandhya in Saamna (2006).
When
President George W. Bush visited India in
March 2006, he invited Aishwarya, along with Aamir Khan, to a luncheon. Aishwarya could not
attend because she was in Brazil at the time filming for Dhoom:2 (2006).
Turned
down the lead in Corporate (2006) because she
didn't have any dates available for filming. The role was given to Bipasha Basu.
In
mid 2001, Aishwarya started work on two films titled Radheshyam Seetaram and
Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke. For reasons unknown, filming stopped on these films in
February 2002. Filming was never completed and the films have now been shelved.
The only glimpse of the movies that exist for the public to see are photographs
from the sets and publicity shots.
Performed
to an audience of 85,000 in Melbourne, Australia at the closing ceremony of the
2006 Commonwealth Games with 800 backup dancers. (March 2006)
Was
cast with a small role in Lajja (2001), but was
dropped because there were already too many major stars in the film.
When
Karan Johar asked Aishwarya on his talk show which film she wishes she could
have been a part of, she responded Khamoshi: The Musical (1996).
Is
the second Indian actress to appear on the cover of TIME magazine in 2003. The
first was Parveen Babi in 1976.
Featured
in People Magazine as one of the 100 Most Beautiful People in the World. (Issue
May,8,2006)
Got
her education at Arya Vidya Mandir and DG Ruparel College, both in Bombay,
India. She was also accepted into Raheja College of Architecture in Bombay, but
never went.
Good
friends with fellow Indian superstar and icon, Madhuri Dixit. The two worked
together in the super-hit and widely acclaimed Devdas.
Listed
as number 3 of 'Top Bollywood Actresses' of 2006. (rediff.com, 8-25- 2006)
Caused
a day long traffic jam in Dubai, United Arab Emirates while filming a soap
commercial. People would stop for hours just to catch a glimpse of their
favorite actress. (September 5, 2006)
Listed
#3 by UK magazine Eastern Eye one of "Asia's Sexiest Women" (Sept/
2006).
Is
the most photographed woman in India.
She
was the first choice for the role of Jane Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), but she
turned it down due to filming conflicts.
She
secured 90% marks in HSC at Ruparel college in Mumbai.
Her
Pepsi ad with Aamir Khan was shot in one night during the infamous Bombay
riots.
Came
in #1 in BollySpice.com Magazine's list of "Top 10 Actresses of
2006".
In
January 2007, she announced that she has accepted a marriage proposal from
current boyfriend, actor Abhishek Bachchan.
Is
often referred to as "the most beautiful woman in the world".
In
2005, Hugh M. Hefner attempted to create
and Indian version of Playboy for India, which would feature South Asian women
and Indian pop culture articles, but no nudity. He wanted to have Aishwarya on
the cover of the first issue. The magazine was rejected.
Twice
turned down the lead in the Hindi version of Chandramukhi (2005).
Was
invited in 2005 to be a presenter at The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005)
(TV), but was unable to attend because she was busy filming for The Mistress of
Spices (2005).
Is
active in various charities and often visits orphanages.
Her
favorite Western designer is Giorgio Armani. Whenever she is in London, clothes
are taken to her hotel for her to choose from.
Is
the second of five Indian women to win the Miss World title. The first was
Reita Faria, who won in 1966. Others include Diana Hayden who won in 1997, Yukta Mookhey in 1999, and Priyanka Chopra in 2000.
Has
appeared on more magazine covers worldwide than any other Bollywood or Indian
star.
Director Brett Ratner is a fan of
Aishwarya's and he wanted her to be cast in Rush Hour 3 (2007), but she
turned down the offer.
Her
wax statue at Madame Tussauds Museum in London was borrowed by the museum in
New York for six weeks. The statue was flown to New York and made its debut on
August 15, 2007, making her the first Indian actress in the American version of
the museum.
About
15 kilos of henna was special ordered from Sojat in Rajasthan for the henna
ceremony before her wedding.
Her
wedding invitations were embossed with two entwined As and delivered along with
a box of chocolate meringues. Within the invitation was also a poem about new
beginnings written by Amitabh Bachchan's father and renowned poet Harivash Rai
Bachchan.
Her
wedding ceremony lasted a total of three days. It was the most awaited and
talked about wedding in years and the press followed it like Princess Diana's
wedding.
For
her 34th birthday, she went to go see Beyonce Knowles in concert in Mumbai.
Turned
down the role of Neha in Dostana (2008) because she
felt that her real life marriage to Abhishek Bachchan wouldn't work well for
their characters.
Forbes
listed her in the 387th position out of 1,411 actors as the most bankable
Indian star in Hollywood. (February 2009).
The
youngest actress to receive the Padmi Shri award, the fourth highest civilian
honor, from the Government of India for her contribution to cinema.
Aishwarya
has won the esteemed V. Shantaram Award twice: 2009 Best Actress for Jodhaa
Akbar and 2003 Best Actress for Devdas.
The V. Shantaram Award is voted on by members of the Directors Guild.
The V. Shantaram Award is voted on by members of the Directors Guild.
Aishwarya
is the first goodwill ambassador for Smile Train, a charity that works
worldwide for children with cleft lip.
Due
to her popularity, a second wax statue of Aishwarya was added to Madame
Tussauds in Blackpool, UK in October 2011. This new statue took inspiration
from Ash's look at Cannes in an Ellie Saab gown. The previous one had
Aishwarya's statue draped in a sari. It was made exclusively for the
Blackpool's new Bollywood world tour.
Gave
birth to her first child at age 38, a daughter Aaradhya Bachchan on November
16, 2011. Child's father is her husband, Abhishek Bachchan.
Will
start her world-wide tour to perform alongside stars Lara Dutta, Celina Jaitly, Hrithik Roshan, and Fardeen Khan. [April 2004]
Released
"Aishwarya's Greatest Hits" on DVD containing 50 of her music videos
to date. [May 2003]
In
October 1999, Feroz Khan signed her for his next "Qurbaan Tujh Pe Mere
Jaan" co-starring Ajay Devgan and Fardeen Khan. The film was to be
produced and directed by Feroz Khan. It was a love story set against the back
drop of the film industry. The film was announced but then shelved. After
"Qurbaan Tujh Pe Mere Jaan" was shelved, Feroz Khan launched "
Tera Saath Hain Kitna Pyaara" starring Aishwarya Rai and Fardeen Khan. It
was to be produced and directed by Feroz Khan. The title was taken from a song
by the same name from Feroz Khan's earlier hit "Janbaaz". This film
too was also shelved after the announcement.
I'm
just an average woman with average concerns.
Life
will take its toll on all of us. We get injured, we get old. It's really sad to
try to run away from these harsh realities of life. Looks are not everything. I
am not going to look beautiful all the time.
You
give to the world your greatest gift when you're being yourself.
I
believe that as an actress all my fears and phobias exist till I sign on the
dotted line for a film.
I
don't believe in proving a point to anybody. Nobody is that important.
It's
strange that Rakesh Roshan thinks I look older
than Hrithik Roshan. In fact, he's approached me for
all his home productions.
I
always knew I would be successful. So there was no element of surprise.
I
know for a fact that if there's a role which I am suited for, I'll be signed
on. I'll never go begging.
I
only entered Miss India after pressure from friends and because I thought it
would be a laugh.
Comedy
is difficult for an actor. But I think I have a good sense of humor and manage
to make people laugh and make them happy.
[on
donating her eyes after death] People know me more because of my eyes. So I
decided to donate my eyes. But before that, I acquired all the information
about the campaign. Within what time after death one has to donate eyes, and
all other information. Only then I decided to donate my eyes. It's not that
just for doing something, I donated my eyes. I found that useful so I did it. I
like to do social service from my heart. Whatever is possible I do, but I don't
speak of that. But I would like to give more time to it in the near future.
Women
in the industry have been exploited very often, but there are some actors who
belive that the short cut to stardom is through nudity or exposure. Such
success is, in fact, very short-lived.
I
have never done a kissing scene nor do I have intentions to.
[About Chaos (2006)] When this
came to be early this year, I was ecstatic. I couldn't believe that I was
actually going to work with Meryl Streep, someone I've always admired. In
all my interviews 10 years ago people used to ask who is your favorite actor
and actress and I would mention 'Robert de Niro' and Meryl Streep. On my first
trip there I met up with de Niro and my first film is with Meryl Streep, and I
said, "Oh God that's really, really cool. Really wonderful."
Ever
since I went to the Cannes festival, the media overseas really encouraged me to
consider the possibilities of working in the West. Then I got a call from some
people who worked in the business in America, who asked me to first obviously
get an agent so that they could have direct access because that's the way they
work.
[About
turning down the role opposite Jackie Chan in The Myth (2005)] I did not
have the required dates as I was busy with the shows abroad. I had to turn down
the film. I have no regrets because there is always a next time.
Indian
cinema has begun to be recognized globally. And it's very important for us to
make our presence felt at important events such as Cannes. I feel there should
be more Indian representation at festivals. India is producing such a large
cross section of films. We need to be part of world cinema, and we need to do
that now.
Someone
asked me why I'm politically correct, even when people hit out so openly at me.
But the truth is, I've never been brought up to behave any other way. I can't
say anything hurtful about anyone. I just don't believe in saying mean things.
I won't feel good doing that. It's strange why being well behaved is perceived
as being too "propah" and staid. This is the way I am. I'm amazed how
many people feel good hitting out at me. They're welcome to do it. Earlier,
they had more leeway to deny their indiscretions in print. But now on
television they look pretty ridiculous denying what they say.
[About
the sari she wore on The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986)] I thought I'd
wear one on the show, and packed two of them, in case Oprah wanted to wear one,
too. As luck would have it, my flight was delayed and I reached minutes before
the show went on air! So I had no time to change, which is a pity. Americans
love the garment but have no clue how it's tied. Oprah is very respectful and
appreciative of all cultures. She was very curious about the sari and I helped
her put it on, on air! She has sent me an autographed picture saying,
"Next time we change the blouse". She was very sweet.
[About
being on The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986)] Yes, I was
extremely happy to be on her show. I absolutely admire her. I never thought I'd
actually be meeting her--and that, too, on her show! It's so strange. But prior
to our meeting, during my visit to the US for the premiere of Bride & Prejudice (2004), I had some
afternoons off and I watched Oprah. I thought how wonderful it would be to be
on her show. And within a month, I was!"
[in
September 2004] I am not comfortable about kissing or nudity. I am clear about
what I want. I'll work only with good directors who'll offer me two-dimensional
roles. The director and the role are most important.
[IN
2005, about her long career in entertainment] This is my tenth year now, so
things have changed within this span of time--so drastically that when I look
at the work done when I just joined, it's like, "Oh my God!" So much
has changed in these ten years. You get to see how you're part of the process
of change within the Indian film industry. That's all positive, that's all a
good sign.
[Her
advice to aspiring professionals] My biggest concern is always the students who
are working toward a certain career--when they limit themselves to just that
one option. They need to know that the world is huge--it's an ocean, and there
are so many options. It's not the end of the world if they don't get to pursue
an apparent childhood dream. That's really important, because you find a lot of
kids who believe that they want to become a doctor or an aeronautical engineer
or something, and if they don't manage to make their degree, that's the end.
They feel so defeated, which is very disheartening. It's sad to know that
people let themselves be limited by these aspirations.
It's
nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
Life
is a stage, and we are all characters. So play your part and play it well!
[on
why she participated in the Miss World Pageant in 1994] For me, it went beyond
being a beauty queen. For me, it was about being the 20-year-old girl from
India on [an] international platform and a lot of people actually would assume
that I wasn't even educated in India because of the way I'd speak. And they'd
be like, "Have you studied in India? Do you actually speak English out
there?" and, I was like, "This is so interesting that so many people
know so little about my country", and this is exactly what I wanted to do
when I set out on this little mission in my head.
[In
2006] Good films are good films regardless of being made in India or abroad. I
believe a great story transcends cultural lines and language barriers.
[In
2006] I choose films with characters that I feel are relative to a woman's
growth for me. In The Last Legion (2007), I play a
warrior. This was a first for me and it was a fantastic experience. I would
like very much to do more action films. As for the right direction, I make my
choices and always move forward one step at a time.
[on
her character in The Mistress of Spices (2005)] I have
related to each character I have performed thus far, including Tilo. I am very
sensitive to moods and one's inward feelings and emotions. I am a true people
person and people watcher. I look forward to meeting interesting people and
understanding their experiences in life.
[on
her character in Dhoom:2 (2006)] It's the kind
of character I have never essayed before. Sunehiri, my character in the film,
is distinctly different from any other character you have seen me play. That's
what makes her exciting to me. For the first time in my life I went through a
bit of a fitness regime. Contrary to popular belief, right since modeling, to
the [Miss World] title, to films, I have never been a fitness freak or
exercised.
[About
director J.P. Dutta] . . . a committed taskmaster. I
have danced to songs before. But he always added to choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant's steps, and that was quite
challenging. He would shoot an entire mukhda in one shot. To do all the songs
at that level required remaining focused at all times. In that moment, I felt I
became Umrao Jaan. It was interesting to deliver a performance that shows her
passionate but tragic story. The film is also reflective of the art that was at
its zenith in that era. The sex trade was called the performing arts then and
not prostitution.
[on Umrao Jaan (2006) being her
first Urdu-language film] Since our generation speaks English, we are not very
fluent in Hindi, leave alone Urdu. I loved those dialogs and the experience to
work and know about that era. For me, it was a study of Urdu on the sets under
the guidance of JP and Javed Saab.
[About Rekha] Rekha is very inspiring. It is not
necessarily relative to just one performance, but her entire career, the span
of characters that she has essayed, the performances that she has delivered
itself is extremely inspiring. I am inspired by her performance. But I cannot
ape her.
[on
her role in Umrao Jaan (2006)] Playing Umrao
Jaan was a demanding emotional journey. When a story takes that course, it is
following an entire arc; it goes through all the possible emotions. The process
was satisfying, inspiring and challenging. It forced me to deliver the best in
every moment.
[on
being compared to Rekha in Umrao Jaan (1981)] For me, as an
actor, it's a special experience to get the opportunity to play Umrao Jaan who
has been already iconised on our celluloid. When I played Paro in Devdas (2002), I went
through the same area of questioning about how my role will be compared with
the ones played earlier.
[In
2006] My reason for choosing a film is not to impress people. I don't choose
films for the box office.
[in
2006] The audiences feel I am part of their life so they worry about me. I
think that is very sweet of them and I tell them that when I will marry I will
announce it. When I get married, you'll know. I believe in marriage and it is a
beautiful institution.
[In
2006] It is a very tricky situation when you get the chance to work in English
films. I do films based on characters, not to get an entry into Hollywood or
whatever. In English, my _Bride & Prejudice (2005)_ (qv ) did well world
over. I don't know how it did in Hindi, but I know _Jurassic Park (1998)_
didn't do well in Hindi. I was glad audiences worldwide liked an English film
that was Indian. When I did The Mistress of Spices (2005), I did it for
Paul [Paul Mayeda Berges, the director and husband of Gurinder Chadha] as a team. The film found its
audiences. When the [Provoked: A True Story (2006)] script came
to me, I felt it was a very important story of an Indian woman based in London
who killed her husband because of marital abuse. Kiran Ahluwalia made a big impression
in England, and so I did this film because I felt it was an important story to
be told. "Provoked" is an important film for many other Kirans in the
world.
As
far as The Last Legion (2007) is concerned,
it is a film based on a book [a novel byValerio Manfredi]. I don't think the character
of Meera [her role] is there in the book. I did the film for the new experience
and it is for the first time that I was with a complete foreign crew. Working
with Ben Kingsley was a great
experience. Meera is an Indian in the film and she has great roots and you will
identify with her strength. I feel for Indian audiences, and want them to feel
pride in what I am doing: I am not doing films just to be there as guest
appearances.
[on
celebrating her 33rd birthday] I am just not the birthday bash kind. My day
will start with a visit to the Siddhivinayak temple with my family, something I
do every year. There will be no loud parties . . . my birthday is a very
private affair. Concidering I have to leave for Dubai tomorrow, it will be over
early, too. Only family and friends will be there.
[on
the rumors that her black eye was the result of abuse by Salman Khan] For some perverse reason, no one
wants to believe me, that I fell down the stairs. First the media calls me the
woman of the millennium, a woman of substance. Then how can the same media make
me out to be such a doormat? I'm a self-respecting woman, I don't take nonsense
from anyone. No one tries caveman tactics on me. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger can fall and get
hurt, so why should I be any different?
I
have never deliberately driven attention to the fact that I am working in
Hollywood films. I have categorically stated that I am working in different
kinds of films, be it British, Hindi, Tamil or Bengali. It's all about doing
films, which are my passion.
[on
meeting producer Harvey Weinstein for the first time at
the 2005 Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People] He is a big fan of Indian
films. He has seen Devdas (2002) and said he
respected my work. It's a big compliment coming from somebody who has such an
immense body of work and yet is so humble from him? He discussed a few ideas
and scripts with me. He is starting his own company. We are discussing
projects. Time will tell all.
[on
attending the dinner for Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of the
Year in 2005] I am surprised at my life's turn of events. Six of us were asked
to raise the toast for the evening. And I raised it for my parents and for my
fans, without whom I wouldn't have reached where I am today. Nicole Kidman had to rush out for
some premiere, but she said that she and her son loved Bride & Prejudice (2004) and I told her
how I loved all her performances. Sean Penn told me that I spoke
well and I told him that I've always been his fan!
[Upon
hearing that Julia Roberts had said that
Aishwarya was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen] That was
embarrassing; at first I didn't believe she said that. I thought it was a rumor
started by a journalist. But it's sweet. She's an incredible actor and she
seems like a wonderful person, so all you can do is say, "Thank you"
[In
2007] I am not comfortable about kissing or nudity. I've never said I'd never
kiss, or whatever on screen. I've always maintained I'd cross that bridge when
I come to it. Again, I'm accused of playing it safe. The truth is, I don't know
what tomorrow holds. So I can't make a close ended principle about it.
[Her
thoughts on modern women versus the queens of the era of Jodhaa Akbar (2008)] I consider
myself lucky to be born in today's era where a woman has far more freedom to
exercise her rights. It took them ages to get ready for one appearance, and
imagine staying behind curtains all day long.
[on
being voted the most bankable Bollywood star in Hollywood] Wow! Me the most
bankable Bollywood star in Hollywood? Thank you! I must confess that any
acknowledgment of hard work makes me feel content. In all humility I want to
thank all those who feel I'm bankable.
God
has given me plenty of reasons to smile and I feel it's time to spread it
around. There are a lot of children out there who so desperately need help, but
can't receive timely care because their families cannot afford this surgery or
are ill-educated about this condition.
[In
1999] I'm like the Terminator. I won't stop till I win. Just everything must be
perfect.
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