Actress Aishwarya Rai's journey into films has been incredible. From winning the Miss World title in 1994 to recently being honoured with the Padma Shree award. She has come a long way. On the occasion of her birthday on November 2, in an interview with CNN-IBN's Entertainment Editor Rajeev Masand, Aishwarya answers her fans' questions, which they have sent in through IBNLive.com and Twitter.
Rajeev Masand: If you could invite three people to your home for dinner who aren't alive. Who would they be?
Aishwarya Rai: I would want to invite more that three over for dinner. Firstly, my maternal and paternal grandparents because I never had the chance to meet them. I would love to meet my parents' parents and have a conversation with them to get to know them better.
And on this side, dada ji and dadi ma because they are just so spirited. I hear so much about them. They are very present amongst us as a family. So I would have loved to get to know them. Get an incredible cultural insight and that would personally mean a lot to me.
Rajeev Masand: You are regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world. Has anyone told you you are not beautiful?
Aishwarya Rai: Well, I've had my days when a section of media has given me a badgering for not being able to pay attention to the apparent. I think we all ride the wave and go through the turf. But I just want to thank everybody in all humility for all the compliments. I'm only human and words do feel good so thank you.
Rajeev Masand: If you had the power to turn any one of your flop films into a success, which one would you choose?
Aishwarya Rai: Yes, I have had my fair share of flops. Actually I would choose my first one Iruvar, it was not commercially a huge success but definitely a movie that was way ahead of its time. I saw it recently again when I was filming with Mani (Mani Ratnam who also directed Iruvar). And when Abhishek and I saw it again we thought it was a brilliant piece of cinema. So that is why I think that movie deserved a wider audience.
Rajeev Masand: If you are told you are not allowed to laugh or giggle at the world's funniest joke, would you be able to control yourself?
Aishwarya Rai: I've got this title of a 'giggler' because I'm a happy person. I love to laugh. I think its important to smile and laugh with life. Life as it is can be difficult, painful and exhausting. I see humour in strange things, sometimes at the tone of questions and at times because I have a flip answer going on in my mind but I'm answering it straight. So I actually laugh more at normal things in life than at a funny joke.
Rajeev Masand: When are we going to see you in a film with Shah Rukh Khan again?
Aishwarya Rai: I don't have the answer to this question. There have been rumors flying around ever since his recent apology. But I really don't have the answer.
Rajeev Masand: Who is the more mature one out of Abhishek (Abhishek Bachchan) and you?
Aishwarya Rai: I think we take our turns and that is the best way to get through life. We take turns in being the child and the adult in the relationship and we keep a very fair balance of that. Inherently, I'm like a child-woman and he is like a child-man. People who know us know that for a fact. So it's wonderful to keep the balance going.
Rajeev Masand: Now this question is from me, what are birthdays like at home?
Aishwarya Rai: Personal. In fact for most of my life and it's been the same after marriage too. It's family time and I started working really early so to get time to spend at home is rare and on festivals or on birthdays. And as much as I can I try and answer phone calls and people who visit at least on that day. Because I'm told I'm terrible with phones and messages. So on my birthday I try and make myself as accessible as I can.
Rajeev Masand: What is lined up for this birthday?
Aishwarya Rai: No plans as of now. This year has been particularly busy. I've had a lot of busy years but this one feels even more so because of the nature of life after marriage, where time is always less. The kind of films I took on this year are all mammoth projects. And I'll be working till the last day. Birthdays come and go. You just have to be happy everyday. And make the most with your loved ones.
Rajeev Masand: You have achieved so much in your life already. Do you still have any unfulfilled dreams?
Aishwarya Rai: Though this is not an answer I can give in a couple of sentences. When I started working the idea was always to give the best to whatever I take on. The idea has always been to put your best out and god willing you will have the opportunity to celebrate your effort.
The wonderful thing about life is you never feel you have achieved 'it'. There is just so much to look forward to in life and so much to learn. It's an incredible time right now in cinema where there is so much change going on and there is plenty to explore. The student in me is forever hungry and that is the way I approach life.
Rajeev Masand: The biggest films of next year have you in them. Whether it's Sanjay Leela Bansali's Guzarish, Shankar's Enthiran, Mani Ratnam's Raavan, and the ambitious project by Vipul Shah, Action Replay with Akshay Kumar?
Aishwarya Rai: I don't know about biggest or smallest. Everybody works very hard on every piece of cinema. The only thing is I call them that is, because all these filmmakers are working on their films almost simultaneously. So there are big schedules.
They are all ambitious projects because of the scale. Each one has explored or tackled a certain world or era, a specific genre, area where we are shooting. That is why there is a lot going into it creatively and physically. Though it's been a hectic year, it's been super exciting.
Rajeev Masand: As an Indian actress what efforts do you make to reach out to the Indian diaspora?
Aishwarya Rai: I think I have been very fortunate with the kind of films and roles that have come my way. Especially the way I started. The audience embraced me as a model. Then the title happened and I was travelling abroad a lot. There was this perception that she is a model with light eyes and fair skin and she is going to come in and do more western molded roles. But I was very thankful to my directors who knew my desire to play characters intrinsically Indian.
Fortunately it's not been overbearing, even though I have essayed epic characters in these present times where it can be put on the dock for questioning. The audience - Indian diaspora - has embraced and celebrated these pieces of cinema. So what I have chosen as my body of work has been celebrated and I have been very glad about it.
Rajeev Masand: Any chances you might work in television at all?
Aishwarya Rai: This question has been often asked recently since there were rumours that I was to judge a show and didn't because of some monetary aspect. It's not true. Time is very important as of now in my life and with the amount of film assignments that I have had through out I have not been able to accept any opportunities that have come my way in television.
I do recognise television as a terrific medium to be connected with the audience on a daily basis. But this is an idea I would explore ahead in life. I would consider them when I decide to go easy on my film assignments but not as of now.
Rajeev Masand: Any plans to enter politics? You would make a great leader.
Aishwarya Rai: At this point in time I haven't even thought about it. I say 'at this point in time' as I've been asked this question so many times in these last two years. It's like the thoughts are being put into my head. But I haven't even considered or imagined it as being my way of life. I see acting as being my field of choice for a long time to come.
VIDEO: http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/104411/11_2009/ash_effect1/birthday-girl-aishwarya-on-films-marriage-and-life.html
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