Did Aishwarya Rai Bachchan tone down her smartness and intelligence to gain more acceptance in Bollywood?

Sona Mohapatra has always believed in calling a spade a spade. Discussing about how ‘dumber’ men and women find it easier to navigate a complex eco-system, she gave an example of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She was on the Love Lingo podcast hosted by Arsala Qureishi and Jas Sagu where Arsala said she read on social media that people who had really smart brains knew when to act dumb. She said she did not understand what it meant in totality. Sona Mohapatra said that she knew Aishwarya Rai Bachchan from the time when she was not a Bollywood actress. She said she noticed a change in her post her joining the industry.

The singer said that she believed in being independent, and that took a lot of effort. Sona Mohapatra said that people who came across as a bit helpless tended to fit better into India’s eco-system. She said, “A person would fit into the eco-system much better if you were also thoda bechara and helplessness, in general, is gender-free."

The Ambarsariya singer said that she met Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for the first time when she had come to write her NID entrance exams in Mumbai. Sona Mohapatra said Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was studying architecture, and was older to her. Sona Mohapatra said, “She had a classmate, family friends, very close. She looked gorgeous, she is so smart, spoke very well, top, went on to be who she was."

After winning the Miss World crown, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made her Bollywood debut. Sona Mohapatra said during a phase she saw interviews of the actress and she came across as a different person. She said, “This isn't the Aishwarya I saw'. Because she would have to somehow be very, maybe she was diplomatic in any case, but somehow giggle a lot and giggle a lot and giggle a lot. Maybe that was her phase. But I kept thinking, 'She is a very intelligent woman'. But the industry she is in, maybe compels her to not be just too smart, I might be wrong. She toned down."