Aishwarya Rai Bachchan talks ‘Jazbaa’

Beauty queen-turned-actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is returning to the big screen after almost five years in Jazbaa, which releases in the UAE on October 8, playing a lawyer forced to get a rapist and murder off scott-free in four days after her daughter is kidnapped.

The film, directed by Sanjay Gupta, also stars Irrfan Khan and Shabana Azmi, and had its trailer launch in Mumbai on August 26 with the former Miss World present. 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. Her duties as a mother to three-year-old Aaradhya kept her busy all these years. Here’s what she had to say about the film, money and her return to acting.

How time flies:

“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.

“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.”

Keeping mum on profit sharing:

Many actors demand a share in the profits of a film and it was reported that director Sanjay Gupta would be sharing profits of the upcoming action drama with his lead actress. “Come to my office and we will discuss it,” she said. The director interrupted saying, “it is all success sharing.”

Plotting her return?

“I felt the time was right to venture out... but I am still figuring out things. I think in a mother’s life, every day is a first whether the baby is one year old or five years old. Every day is a new day and you keep discovering. When I felt I can go ahead and do things I did. When we were ready we rolled it. I think it all fell into place. There is no plan to [not being in the limelight]. I feel I am present. I kept doing films before marriage, during marriage and after marriage, during pregnancy and now. I respect the integrity of commitment. I am a very committed mother.”

Social media plans:

“I have not been on social media. Whenever I come it is through [husband Abhishek Bachchan’s] account and it is just to thank everyone for the good wishes, love and blessings. I am grateful for everything.”

Exciting time for cinema:

“Every movie that we make, we hope it appeals to the audience because it is made for them. There are variety of subjects that are appreciated and enjoyed by the audience. And that makes an exciting time for us in movies. It is exciting time in cinema and we creative people are very grateful for it. We too get to enjoy the variety.”

Playing a lawyer:

“It did educate me on what the life of a lawyer is. Cinema is part of our culture. We do have a certain impression about courtroom scenarios. We wanted to keep it as real as we could and that’s the way we have played it out with the conviction of a lawyer, not necessary the dramatics,

“I don’t follow conventional parts. I enjoy the process of making a film. When a film has made the money, it is gratifying for the business of cinema. When the film has appealed to the audience, it is creatively satisfying. We have made the film and now it is out there and we hope people like it.”