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Jodhaa is very dear to me: Ash new interview
We caught up with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the music launch of her much awaited release Jodhaa Akbar, her first post becoming the Bachchan bahu. Here are excerpts from the conversation.
Jodhaa Akbar had been in the making, before my wedding, during my wedding and after my wedding. So in a way it has covered it all. I cannot claim whether it has made any specific difference but it has definitely made a very special place in my heart and it has been a wonderful experience working with director Ashutosh Gowarikar and Hrithik Roshan again.
How much research did you do to prepare for the role?
It is not important how much research you do but what your director wants. I have portrayed my character the way Ashu wanted in his story, from his perspective. He had already researched and worked on my character and presented me a ready made material sketch of the character and the personality. I hold Jodhaa very dear to me from my perspective and that the character I am playing is true to the script.
What kind of pressures did you undergo while doing the film?
My role in JA involved a lot of costume changes. So you can imagine how much pressure one undergoes during all that. One has to sit patiently in front of the camera and not reveal it on the sets. It is said that the royal families of those era dressed up like that every morning and remained that way throughout the day behind the curtains. I feel glad that I am born in this era where I can enjoy more liberties as a woman today. But it has been the most tiring experience playing the role of the queen in Jodhaa Akbar.
Reportedly, a few of your scenes had to be morphed because you couldn't give the right expressions during battle sequences?
There have been so many stories about the film floating around, but I had been so busy that I didn't have time to see them and clarify each one of them. Before I came into this movie Ashu had asked me if I had horse riding or sword fighting experience. I told him I had done a little of all that during The Last Legion but had not trained for it. For Jodhaa Akbar, I didn't get enough time to train as well being busy travelling or shooting one film after another. But yes, I took to sword fighting like fish to water and thoroughly enjoyed it. I really enjoy doing action. For the horse riding sequence, I went an hour before the shoot to get familiar with the horse. I wasn't scared but it is good to be a bit careful. Now I feel I should get trained in all this. About morphing, Ashu will be the best person to answer it.
Did you undergo any special physical training to fit the part?
Jodhaa’s character doesn’t require a body that needs rigorous gym training. It was not a Dhoom 2. Also, no special efforts were made in terms of my looks. But yes, it was different and I enjoyed playing my character. I had already done a lot of Indian characters, so I started working out on how different I could look visually. It was interesting because Jodhaa is already so ornate visually. We then decided to go almost bare with the costumes and accessories. She should look rich as well as go with the character. She need not drown in the costumes and heavy jewellery.
The chemistry (that lead to controversy) between you and Hrithik appears more sizzling in Jodhaa Akbar than in Dhoom 2.
The chemistry you see in Jodhaa Akbar between Hrithik and me will be exactly what Ashu wanted out of the two characters we were portraying so nothing more should be read beyond that.
