Ash speaks out

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been turning down movies for more than just the time factor. For the first time, Aishwarya reveals why she said no to Karan Johar’s romantic comedy Dostana which features her husband Abhishek and John Abraham and why she agreed to a film with Rajnikanth.

First things first. Did you turn down Karan Johar’s Dostana?
Yes. I opted out of Dostana because the inter-personal relationships among the three of us made me uncomfortable. Now that Abhishek and I are married the kind of quirky situations shown in Dostana, albeit in a comic vein, wouldn’t have worked.

But Dhoom and Jodhaa-Akbar worked although you were paired with Hrithik and not Abhishek?
But Dhoom happened before the marriage and there was no triangle in Jodhaa-Akbar. Now the audience can’t see me sharing my affections for Abhishek with another guy. I can’t tell you why it wouldn’t have worked for me and Abhishek as a pair without giving away the plot. Karan Johar wasn’t bothered with all these personal considerations. But I felt otherwise. I thought the audience would wonder, ‘She likes John and Abhishek equally? No way!’

Now you’ll be romancing Rajnikanth in Shankar’s Robot?
It’s a total Rajni/Shankar styled entertainer. There’s no logic to why I agreed to do it beyond the urge to work with Rajnikanth. Shankar and Rajni Sir have approached me for so many films, it’s embarrassing. Ever since Jeans (Shankar directed the film), Shankar’s approached me for all his films except Boys. Rajni Sir approached me for his last five films. My refusal to do his films was never misconstrued by him. I admire him for never taking offence to my refusal. It speaks volumes about his seniority.

Is that why you said yes to Robot?
For Robot, it was an immediate Yes from me. I just wanted to work with Rajni Sir and Shankar. Jeans was a super-success. I came away learning so much from Shankar and the film. Robot will also be a learning experience.

Is it a sci-fi film?
It’s hard to define. But technically, it will take cinema to another level. I can only say I’ll come away enriched. It’s very important for me to come away with something from my films since I give so much. I want to work with Rajni Sir, yaar. He’s phenomenal. Everyone speaks of this experience.

You have a seasoned phenomenon in your own house.
Yeah, but I share a different equation with the one in my house.

Author: Subash K. Jha