'Ponniyin Selvan I': Aishwarya Rai Bachchan recalls an interaction between Mani Ratnam & Aaradhya

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is all set to make her comeback to the silver screen with Mani Ratnam's 'Ponniyin Selvan I'. The actor attended the promotional event for the film with director, music composer AR Rahman, and actors Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi and Trisha.  

During the press conference, Aishwarya was asked about daughter Aaradhya’s reaction to her portraying the role of a queen in the film, and she was reminded of an interaction between her daughter and Mani Ratnam. She told, ‘She (Aaradhya) is yet to see the movie. But at the time, she was enthralled. And there are many here who have children. And, seeing a period drama is always exciting and she got the opportunity to visit the set and it was mesmerizing. I could see that in her eyes.’ 

The actor said Aaradhya is in ‘awe’ of Mani Ratnam. ‘I think my admiration for working with him, she already has the very… she respects him, she is in awe of him. And his affection is so sweet. And I think what excited her the most is, when one day when she came on set and he gave her the opportunity to say action, she couldn’t get over that. She is like, ‘Sir gave me the opportunity to say that’. I said, ‘My God’, none of us have had that opportunity. So that’s probably the most cherished memory. This is really precious and she values it already and I think, in her growing up years, she’ll cherish it even more,’ Aishwarya said. 

This is Aishwarya’s fourth collaboration with Mani Ratnam. The two earlier worked together for films 'Raavan', 'Iruvar' and 'Guru'. Aishwariya also referred to Mani Ratnam as her 'guru' and said, 'I worked in my first film with him… (He is) the perfect school, the perfect guru, because experience is the best teacher.’ 

When asked about her views on the most difficult character as a queen, as she earlier featured as a queen in Ashutosh Gowariker’s 'Jodhaa Akbar', the actor said, ‘You don’t compare your roles as an artiste. Every experience is challenging itself and memorable in itself, too.’