Abhishek and I are liberated: Aishwarya Rai

The actor tells PRITHWISH GANGULY that, unlike other stars, they have freed themselves from the trap of formula films

In their willingness to essay the unusual, the real-life husband and wife are not averse to risk-taking in their reel existence.

In fact, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan feels that Abhishek and she, unlike other ‘stars’, have ‘liberated’ themselves from falling into the trap of doing formula films just because they had tasted success in them. “Abhishek has liberated himself from the trap that any actor or star can easily fall into. In my long career in films, I have also tried to do the same,” Aishwarya tells After Hrs.

The actor adds, “If I may dare say so, Abhishek has proved that he’s willing to embrace a variety of roles. You need not single out Dostana to realise that. When he was around 30, he did Guru.  He had earlier done Yuva.  In Sarkar Raj, the first film that released after our marriage, we did not play the conventional couple — his character even passed away in it!”

On her trying to be experimental, Ash, who is the brand ambassador of Longines, says: “As an actor, I had freed myself much earlier. Right from the beginning of my career, I have never worked according to a plan — that for the first few years I’d do song-and-dance films…then do art house films.”

She adds, “My first film was a Tamil movie by Mani Ratnam that did not revolve around my character. I could have had a typical launch vehicle here but I was hoping to make a statement that this was the way I intended to conduct my career. I try and give my audience a different Aishwarya each time.”  

We quiz her about the report that she is missing from posters of her most anticipated Hollywood film, The Pink Panther.

She opines, “I’m a very secure and comfortable actor. My focus is always on what I am doing in the film, on the filmmaker and whether all that was promised to me turns out while we are working, exactly how it was on paper or in our discussions. I have never stipulated in my contracts or questioned the directors as to where I will be in the promos of the film.” 

And what about the news that she was the reason why Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan had a spat on Katrina Kaif’s birthday? “I really don’t have the time or the inclination to pay attention to these rumours or spats. My overall conduct has shown that they are meant to be brushed aside,” she ends.
g_prithwish@dnaindia.net