We don't rate each other, admit Abhi-Aish

They are the most sought after onscreen and off-screen couple and individual stars, but Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan say they would never rate each other professionally.

Having worked in six films together, the couple is going to rub shoulders again for Mani Ratnam's upcoming movie Raavan and analysing each other at work is the last thing on their mind.

"We don't rate each other. We just like working with each other as co-actors," Aishwarya, 36, said.

"Abhishek is a very free actor. He breaks himself free. He works as a team member and doesn't act as a male lead or anything of that sort [at work].

"He is a team mate fulfilling his director's vision in every which manner he can and a pleasure to work with," she added.

Her actor-husband chipped in: "We don't criticise our performances. As a wife, Aishwarya has always been equally and completely supportive and more than that as a co-actor, she does everything to make it go right. She does not ever compromise even on her co-star's work.

"[And] as a couple we never bring work home...that's a rule."

Ratnam runs tight ship

Award-winning director Mani Ratnam ran a tight ship during the filming of Raavan and his celebrity troop —Abishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai and Vikram — is fiercely protective of their leader.

Case in point: A two-hour long web conference conducted with journalists from New York, Dubai, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi over the weekend had the terrific trio waxing lyrical about the visionary director.

Apparently, jumping off cliffs, sliding down slippery slopes and standing for hours in snake-infested waters may have been a tough feat but the bite was toned down since they unanimously felt that their roles — as Beera (Abhishek Bachchan), Ragini (Aishwarya Rai) and Dev (Vikram) in Raavan — is their career best.

"I would not have been in films if not for Mani sir. There was a point when I didn't know whether to pursue film or to continue my studies. But then I got a call from Mani sir asking me to come to Chennai for a project and the rest is history. I am here in the world of films because of him," says Aishwarya. Her better half, Abhishek was in a more jovial mood when asked how the experience of acting in Raavan had altered his life.

"Oh, I got to take home a lot of things. Firstly, I learnt that land snakes can swim and that rattle snakes do bite," says Abhishek.

Meanwhile, South Indian hunk Vikram who is making his first high-profile Bollywood entry with Raavan, says dubbing in Hindi was the most challenging part.

"Swimming with the snakes was not as tough as dubbing in Hindi. But jokes apart, we have all worked very hard for this film," says Vikram.

Raavan releases in the UAE on June 17.

With input from IANS