Compared to crying is it easy to emote
laughter?
No. In fact it's the other way round.
But vivacious that I am, laughing comes naturally to me. A lot
depends on the ambience of the sets. For instance, on Sanjay
Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Hai Sanjay, Salman and I are having
a ball because the atmosphere is so relaxed. At the same time,
it doesn't hinder the film's progress. I'm not saying performing
emotional scenes is a cakewalk. But comic scenes are difficult
to perform because of the timing of the action that you are enacting
has to be perfect. And the laughter should be infectious.
It shouldn't make the audience frown in disgust.
Where do you draw
inspirations from? Personal experiences?
I don't delve into memories and unleash them
to enact a particular scene. I imagine the situation, the
character I'm playing is in and I take it from there. Honestly,
speaking, Hindi films offer specific parameters to portray characters
and one seldom finds the need to get into the diversity. Yes,
the characters that I play are an extension of my personality.
They help me discover many sides to myself.
You mean to say that
Nandine (her character in Bhansali's film) has a part of Aishwarya Rai
in her......?
Definitely. Nandini, I relate to but at
the same time the director and the story also play their role.
At the end of the film the audiences' mind will be Aishwarya Rai who
can make several facial expressions and her wonderful eyes can express
so many words. And this holds true for all artistes unless one
uses guises like wearing costumes, using different body language and
voice modulation and be different from what you originally look like.
Like Naseeruddin Shah
and Kamal Hassan......?
Yeah! And it's such a pleasure to watch them
playing a particular character on screen. The buck teeth of
Kamal Hassan in Major Saab made him look so much real
so did Naseer's frail fame in Paar. But seldom
such films are made. Directors usually make pot-boilers as they
are easily accepted by the masses. However, today the trend is
definitely changing. I'm glad story oriented films are giving
artistes opportunities to experiment with their physical appearance.
I guess, I'mat the right place at the right time.
Would you experiment with your looks?
I'm a beginner. The audience has still to see the real Aishwarya
Rai. Aur Pyar Ho Gaya was just a trailer.
So, at this stage of my career, I don't want to wear a starched while
saree, make wrinkles on my forehead and don Grey hair and say, 'Hey
see! I played a challenging role!' And the no make up look has
become more of an 'in' thing rather than a showcase of talent.
It'd look artificial! And with the kind of media exposure the masses
are aware of this to a great extent. Today, one can't doubt
their perception and intelligence level. Critical they are and
the artistes have to be careful. I'll experiment with my looks
as I gain experience as an actress. And I want to do it
with a certain degree of strength and conviction. It'll happen
with time
Surely as you have managed to bag the
best...
(Cutting the conversation) Hey! Hey!! Hey!!! Wait a minute.
I haven't 'managed' it. Somehow people have the perception that
I'm an actress with foresight who 'manages' to bag the right projects.
Here I credit the director for placing their faith and trust
implicitly in me. And the feeling, that the directors pictured
as playing that particular character, gives me a high. But there
have been projects where I have signed on the dotted line and the next
moment I see someone else doing the film. (Asks innocently) Is
this due to the undercutting or camps? Campism, I don't believe in.
It only goes to raise expectations and dependence which soon turns
into a let down. Well, thank God, I'm not so brutally ambitious.
Not that I'm not hurt. Tomorrow those directors, who come across
me, will feel uncomfortable to look me in the eye. At least I'm
at peace with myself. And for your information I'm on my own,
without a godfather, a secretary, and a family that isn't remotely
connected to to films. So the question of 'managing' to bag the
best of projects doesn't arise.
It seems you sacked Jatin Rajguru, your secretary, as he
quoted an exorbitant sum for Priyadarshan's film with Anil Kapoor and
Tabu...?
That's not true! We parted ways mutually. Actually he was never
there to start with. When I appointed Jatin as my secretary, I
already had three films in hand viz. Mani Ratnam's
Get this
straight. She's ben through the wringer. Maybe many more times than
the average actress. But that's the arc of celebrity. And when you're
Aishwaya Rai, nothing remains average or ordinary anymore.
Lately, one flip-flop above all others has been domination Aishwarya
Rai gossip. If you're an informed 90's movie bug who keeps up with
everthing from dangerous liasons to box office tallies, then you
impatiently await the answer to the burning wuestion. Is Aishwarya Rai
more than just schmoozing with Salman Khan?
But first things first. She looks longingly into the camera. As the
goden hues of the day filter behind her, a roll of film becomes a
thing of beauty.
Her mobile rings incessantly. The media's paging her persistently. And
she wants to far from the maelstrom. When I inform her that I have
been assigned to do the dirty job too, she gives me an et tu look. And
I ask:
Is it true that you're married to Salman Khan?
What? That's the most preposterous piece of news I've ever
heard. False, absolutely false.
So you're not having an affair with him?
Certainly NOT. Write that in capital letters. Its the
weirdest rumour I've ever heard.
You're not engaged to him either?
No
But Salman Khan looks totally besotted by you.
Please.I cannot account for anyone else's actions.
Could these rumours be a publicity gimmick for
Hum Dil De
Chuke Sanam?
Certainly not. Neither the producer nor the director of
the film need to resort to such cheap tricks. They're confident that
they've made a good film. They don't need to indulge in silly
gimmicks.
Will these rumours spoil things between Salman and you?
I don't know whether to be angry or laugh. Why should any
talk affect us? Just because people talk rubbish, we can't stop
talking or pretend to look the other way when we run into each other.
That would mean letting the rumours get the better of us.
Is a certain section of the media compaining against you?
I don't mean to sound persecuted but the fact is yes, a
section of the media has been after me. Perhaps because I haven't
given them interviews or done photo-sessions for them.
Would you say your directors have let you down vis-a vis the
quality of films that you've done?
I'm not complaining. I'm more than happy with the faith all
my directors have shown in me. And there's none of that "She's
new, let's see what she has in store" element anymore.
Then?
I'vr proved myself as a competent dancer. I have the talent.
I'm sincere, hardworking and I've got the choicest of roles. I haveno
complaints. But yes, perhaps I'm more under scrutiny than a lot of
other actors and actresses.
Like it or not, you're seen as a icon too.
I'm not fighting that. Neither my bloodline not what's
God-given.
Recently when I travelled to Switzerland for the Longines campaign I
was made to feel special. Just the way when I wore the Miss World
crown. Then things had passed off in a whirl of hectic activity,
moving from country to coutry. Today, I have the time to actually
enjoy the adulation.
Where do you see yourself as an actress?
Give me time. I have worked on my characters like Nandini's
in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Manasi's in Taal. Ask
Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Subhash Ghai, they'll tell you. No one
writes about the hard work I've out in. It's easy to be dismissive of
someone else's efforts.
Do you resent the fact that people derisively call you a tease
or say that you play up to your directors?
That's really hitting below the belt. I'm not a tease. I
can't help it if I attract more than my share of attention. I don't go
around fluttering my eye-lashes and wrapping men around my little
finger. I don't need to stoop to such levels.
It's jealousy. No one can digest the fact that I've made it on my own
steam. That I've already worked with everyone from Mani Ratnam to the
RK banner. Despite my so-called flops and lack of acting talent, I've
still been signed by Rajkumar Santoshi and Boney Kapoor for their next
projects.
And what amazes me is the contradictory statements made in the press.
When I first signed Taal, it was said that it was due to my
knowledge of dance and not for my acting talent, later it aws said
that I had to be literally whip-flogged into dancing.
They say, I'm very good at PR. That's hogwash. I don't have a
secretary who throws open my date diaries to producers. Plus my round
the clock schedules make it difficult for me to reach out to those who
have signed me on for their films.
The accusations used to hurt like hell, earlier. Today I've become
tougher.
You sound hurt.
You bet I am. I don't play games, that's the problem. I know
for a fact that if there's a role which I'm suited for, I'll be signed
on. I'll never go begging. By the grace of God, work has come home.
Recently I signed a big banner project. The verty same day three
actresses approached the director. You tell me whose playing games. I
think the industry thrives on the crab mentality. One crab tries to
hop out of the basket, 20 other crabs will pull it down.
So have your goals, ambitions changed?
I've never lost sight of what I want to do. I'm driven, I'll
acheive everything that I set out to. Even during my first year as
Miss World, I always said it was a learning experience for me. I made
no promises to anyone. I was discovering myself, my strengths, my
agendas. With time my blue-print for life will have become clearer.
Amen.
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