‘Comeback’ not the right term for Aishwariya

Bollywood actor feels no absence from films despite the five-year hiatus

MUMBAI: Beauty queen-turned-actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is returning to the big screen after almost five years but she claims she did not feel she was absent from the industry.

“I haven’t felt being absent, though going by the time and the number of releases that we do have, of course, I wasn’t making movies. But a lot of ladies here who’ve completely experienced what I’m wonderfully feeling right now will agree that we have no concept of time. We don’t realise how time flies by,” she said responding to queries about her absence at the trailer launch of the much-anticipated Jazbaa directed by Sanjay Gupta.

Her last film was as a caretaker to Hrithik Roshan in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish. She was initially going to star in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Heroine but backed out due to her pregnancy and the role went to Kareena Kapoor. Duties as a mother to three-year-old Aaradhya kept her busy all these years.

“Being a working mother, I really did not delve into this absence factor. And probably that’s why I haven’t necessarily focused on the term ‘comeback’. There’s no going away from it and running away from it. And it will forever be the comeback film. So I’m not denying it but when I turn around and say that I haven’t felt it, that’s just the way it is,” said Aishwarya.

Jazbaa sees Aishwarya in the role of a lawyer stuck in a conspiracy, while Irrfan Khan plays a cop. The film also stars Jackie Shroff, Shabana Azmi and Chandan Roy Sanyal among others.

Paan Singh Tomar actor Irrfan Khan doesn’t have any issues with getting sidelined because of his Jazbaa co-star Aishwarya as he feels it is “beautiful”.

About Aishwarya’s ‘comeback’, Irrfan said: “I don’t consider this is a comeback since I never felt that she ever went anywhere. There is nothing wrong with getting sidelined; in fact, it would feel good. It depends on the person because of whom you get sidelined. Getting sidelined due to Aishwarya is a beautiful thing.”

Irrfan is now working with another member from the Bachchan family after working magic in the successful Piku with Amitabh Bachchan. He was always eager to work with Aishwarya but his respect for her has further enhanced during the course of shooting.

“One of the major reasons to do the film was Aishwarya. I was looking forward to getting to know her and watching her style of working closely. Nothing could be more exhilarating than seeing a mother taking care of her child and simultaneously working,” added Khan.

Irrfan is on a roll currently with the success of Piku and the super-success of Hollywood film, Jurassic World, along with new film Jazbaa gearing up for release on October 9. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2015.

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