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on 2006/10/10 6:24:58
When you do a google search on Aishwarya Rai , you will find more than three million web pages dedicated to her. Her picture is one of the most downloaded ones on the Net. Such is the charisma of the stunning actress.
This, considering she has had only three hits (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Taal and Devdas) in her nine-year career.
The actress spoke to Priyanka Jain about her new film, Umrao Jaan, which hits theatres on November 3.
On being compared with Rekha , star of the original Umrao Jaan
For me, as an actor, it's a special experience to get the opportunity to play Umrao Jaan who has been already iconised on our celluloid. When I played Paro in Devdas, I went through the same area of questioning about how my role will be compared with the ones played earlier.
Thanks to the support of the audience, an incredible film like Devdas made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali was appreciated. That strengthened my belief that in the world of cinema, we are here to tell a story for today's audience. Each time a story is told or retold, it is the interpretation of that director, told in his language of cinema.
What I consider a blessing in my career is the opportunity to have essayed such incredible characters on screen -- be it from the contemporary or modern times, from classics, biographies or earlier films. This has enriched made my time in cinema.
But it's an honour to be even spoken about in the same breath as Rekhadi because she is my senior; somebody I respect and admire. I shared a special connection with her even before I joined the film industry. Once I was at a store near my home. She stopped her car, came to me and said, 'You are mine and you are going to be here (film industry) for a long time.'
It's so special that today I have the chance to play the character that she is synonymous with.
Rekha is very inspiring. It is not necessarily relative to just one performance, but her entire career, the span of characters that she has essayed, the performances that she has delivered itself is extremely inspiring. I am inspired by her performance. But I cannot ape her.
On playing Umrao Jaan
Playing Umrao Jaan was a demanding emotional journey. When a story takes that course, it is following an entire arc; it goes through all the possible emotions. The process was satisfying, inspiring and challenging. It forced me to deliver the best in every moment.
I always enjoyed music and dance and its translation on celluloid. I had always been greedy to work with this combination of director J P Dutta, lyricist Javed Akhtar and music composer Anu Malik because their music is very beautiful.
Performing to the songs was very memorable. Each song was a part of the narrative, part of Umrao's journey.
Since our generation speaks English, we are not very fluent in Hindi, leave alone Urdu. I loved those dialogues and the experience to work and know about that era. For me, it was a study of Urdu on the sets under the guidance of JP and Javed saab.
On director J P Dutta
J P Dutta is a committed taskmaster. I have danced to songs before. But he always added to choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant's steps, and that was quite challenging. He would shoot an entire mukhda in one shot. To do all the songs at that level required remaining focused at all times. In that moment, I felt I became Umrao Jaan.
It was interesting to deliver a performance that shows her passionate but tragic story. The film is also reflective of the art that was at its zenith in that era. The sex trade was called the performing arts then and not prostitution.
On her chemistry with Abhishek
We deliver our performances and the first person we need to satisfy is our director. Then, we hear your verdict and that of our audiences.
Abhishek Bachchan quietly commits himself to the character with fascinating depth. There is not much show about it, but he is clued in. JP and he share a special bond (Abhishek made his debut in JP Dutta's Refugee) and that was evident on the sets. They just need to signal to each other and they would know exactly what is expected.
source:rediff
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