Marriage a unique & beautiful experience: Aishwarya
Noreen Aslam

MUMBAI—Bollywood glamour queen Aishwarya Rai - celebrating her first wedding anniversary with hubby Abhishek Bachchan in Miami Sunday - describes her marriage as a “unique and beautiful experience”. “When I went back on the sets after marriage, there was no change at all. There has been a normal flow before and after marriage. Everyone wants to know how marriage has changed my life. Nothing has changed at all. Life has been one smooth flow,” Aishwarya said in a telephone interview from Miami.
“And though I didn’t plan such a marriage, I wouldn’t want it any other way. It has been wonderful on both the personal and professional fronts,” she added. The actress, who starred in epic romance “Jodhaa Akbar” and completed Hollywood film “Pink Panther” in the past year, says she did not become choosy after marriage.
“I’ve been working selectively since ‘Devdas’. I’m glad I’ve been choosing discreetly according to how much time I’ve on hand. That doesn’t change now. “I’ve committed myself to a couple of films now. I really don’t know if I’m going to get more selective, because I never do more than three films a year. Let’s see what the future holds. So many films I’ve let go because of the time factor,” she said.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q: Tell me, how has marriage changed you?
A: Marriage is such a unique and beautiful experience in my life. I’ve found a wonderful new family. My maiden family and this family together provide me with more than enough happiness and security. What more could I ask for?
When I went back on the sets after marriage, there was no change at all. There has been a normal flow before and after marriage. Everyone wants to know how marriage has changed my life. Nothing has changed at all. Life has been one smooth flow. And though I didn’t plan such a marriage, I wouldn’t want it any other way. It has been wonderful on both the personal and professional front.
I remember when I got engaged and went back on the sets of “Jodhaa Akbar” in Karjat nobody paid any attention. They thought it was just another rumour. When I look back on the hours put in for “Jodhaa Akbar”, I feel it was all worth it.
Q: Your other costume drama “Umrao Jaan” was where love happened between you and Abhishek.
A: (Laughs) Now that you remind me of it, of course. And if you add “Guru” to it, Abhishek and I came together through these.
Q: Where do you go now? Will you be working selectively?
A: When have I not been working selectively? I’ve been working selectively since “Devdas”. I’m glad I’ve been choosing discreetly according to how much time I’ve on hand. That doesn’t change now. I’ve committed myself to a couple of films now. I really don’t know if I’m going to get more selective, because I never do more than three films a year. Let’s see what the future holds. So many films I’ve let go because of the time factor.
Q: Abhishek told me you were willing to let go of “Pink Panther” because his grandmother (Teji Bachchan who died in December 2007) was critically ill.
A: (Falls silent) Firstly, she was not just his grandmother, but mine too. So I wanted to spend as much time with her as he did. Of course, actors are greedy people.