Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: I would have been glad to do Jazbaa five years ago and I will be glad to do it five years later

Five long years after Gujarish (2010), the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai makes a comeback to films with the high octane action thriller ‘Jazbaa’. On the occasion of the premiere of ‘Jazbaa’ on Saturday, 16th July at 8:30 PM on Zee Cinema, the star talks about her return to the limelight, her motherhood and playing a lawyer differently.
Jazbaa’ after a long gap of five years. What do you have to say?
I'm saying this in all honesty, I don’t know how many of you have been married, been mothers and working…we don’t realize how time flies by us. No idea at all. There have been several layers to my life since the beginning. Whether it was advertising, endorsing modelling, and social work apart from being an actor on screen. So I think I have always been a part of your (media’s) life, you’ll (media) have always been a part of my life. And that’s why I never felt I went away anywhere. There was no complete cut off from studios, this life of make-up hair, clothes, etc. it’s like characters from screen.
Q. How has Aaradhaya been a part of all this? Does she ask you about your work?
I tell her that I'm going to office. I always call it office. Aaradhaya has been as much a part of my life as I have been in a part of hers. And I am around her all the time I can. I feel I am lucky that I can blur the line between work and personal life for my child. It made it easier to work simultaneously with motherhood.Likewise when it came to doing Jazbaa, when I think back, God was always planning it but it was the perfect one to start with. I used to plan Aaradhaya and my day keeping the shooting in mind. Personally I am content the way Jazbaa has been made.
Q. What is the Jazbaa of the film ‘Jazbaa’?
The movie has many aspects. The protagonist I play is a professional and a mother. It’s a challenging character. That’s a given! But when you look at all the characters in Jazbaa, each of them have an experience, each of them are in search of answers. We hope the television viewer’s understand the experiences of the characters eventually.
Q. Who is the hero of Jazbaa?
I would like to believe the subject itself. Sanjay would say Aishwarya has the strong protagonist role in a particular context but I always believe in any film, the subject has to be the hero. The subject has to be strong enough to please the audience and the rest of the challenge lies on the filmmaker who binds all the departments together and makes it one. The responsibility is squarely on the director’s shoulder. So it has to be the subject and the work of the filmmaker.
Q. Did you choose the film because of its content?
I would have been glad to do Jazbaa five years ago and I will be glad to do it five years later because of the subject itself. The difference is if I would have done it 5 years earlier, I would have played a mother I would have imagined but now when I play a parent in any film I have an experience, so as an actor the truth, honesty and integrity I bring to the table would be different. Having said that I would have done Jazbaa anytime. It has a strong female protagonist but all the characters are strong. It will set people thinking.
Q. Any comments on your journey from ‘Iruvar’ till date.
I am grateful that it has been my unique story to tell. My beginning could have been different, but now when I look back I am grateful to all the filmmakers, my colleagues, members of the media, critiques and my audience. You’ll have never made me feel otherwise irrespective of the box office results. And that’s very liberating for an artist and gives a sense of security to go ahead and take up different projects with filmmakers and that is held true even today. Just like my audience I too hope, films live up to the promise.
Q. You’re playing an advocate for the first time. Did you take an inspiration from someone?
Very honestly, no! We were dependent on the script. We all had to leave our notions behind since the narrative is of the present time. In reality, there is no time for dramatics and theatrics. Time is of the utmost importance in the legal system. That’s what we really retained and that’s what naturally fell in tandem.
Q. How much have you changed due to motherhood?
I haven’t really analyzed but change is constant. Everyone will always change and evolve. Subconsciously I realize that motherhood will always be foremost on my mind. It doesn’t come with an instruction book but it’s always there on your mind. Even if you don’t want to think about it but its natural. You can’t remember life differently.
Q. What do you have to say about women centric films coming to box office?
God bless and let them keep coming. I am not going to question why. I think wonderful stories are being told. And we will achieve true empowerment and liberation when it breaks away even from that identity. A film should be recognized for a movie rather than be compartmentalized.
Q. Would you do something like Quantico?
I haven’t seen anything to be able to draw comparisons. Whether I would do television here or overseas like cinema, are all opportunities with immense promise. I am glad to say I have consistent queries but I don’t need to announce that to media but such decisions are dependent on my circumstances and my commitments.
~Do not miss Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Irfan Khan in the premiere of ‘Jazbaa’ on this Saturday, 16th July at 8:30 PM only on Zee Cinema ~