ALL Guzaarish Promotions Here! Updt P2-P7,9,11 - Page 4

Bollywood's Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan on Wednesday spent some action-filled moments at the Gulf News office. In that half-hour, not only did they put their editing skills to test, but they also battled sticky questions sent in by you — our readers — with pizzazz and diplomacy.

In town to promote the love story Guzaarish, they spoke at length about on-screen chemistry, being slammed by critics and more.

For both

It's believed you (Rai Bachchan) and Roshan have a great on-screen chemistry. In your opinion, which other couple in Bollywood and Hollywood has the best on-screen chemistry? -Imtiaz, Florida

Roshan: "The so-called chemistry has to first exist on paper and actors merely absorb that, because any two good actors can make it come alive. Chemistry is not about two people or how they look together, it's about the script. Chemistry is always between the characters."

Rai Bachchan: "We genuinely believe that it's about the moments in the screenplay which gives the actors the opportunity to create something magical. All this translates well on celluloid and the audience feels it all.

"As far as favourite on-screen couples go, I think any film that clicks at the box-office make great couples."

Your recent movies like Raavan and Kites haven't done too well. Have you reached a point in your career where flops and hits don't affect you?- Gia Dinkar, Delhi

Roshan: "Filmmaking is an organic process. There's no set equation, so you are naturally geared up for success and failure. The key is to gain the right perspective where you understand that there are no failures, it's all just a learning process."

Rai Bachchan: "I absolutely agree with Hrithik. It's not about reaching a point. Some of us have either had the right guidance or the right approach from the beginning where we realise it's all about the learning curve. Experience is the greatest teacher.

"Yes, success is imperative, but as actors, it's the experience of the making of the film itself that's valuable and relevant."

For Ash

You turned 37 recently, but you continue to work in A-list projects. What's your biggest strength, especially when actors like Rani, Preity, Shilpa and Sushmita have almost given up on their careers? -Shakeel Shemna

"Firstly, it's an unfair statement, because we shouldn't compare. That has never been my objective. We all have our own stories to tell and our own experiences to share.

"I don't view my life in the way the question is coined. In terms of age for an actor, I have maintained from my first film, Iruvar, onwards that as an actor you are as old or as young as the character needs to be. I didn't try to play the girl with pigtails to start with and I don't need to necessarily go by the chronology, as long as you can play a character convincingly.

"Ageing is a natural process as human beings. But as an actor, as long as an audience accepts your character, the rest is immaterial."

What's your reply to critics who praise your flawless beauty but slam your acting skills? -Rekha Sanjith, Bengaluru

"It's all a part of the turf and it's about taking it in your stride. At the end of the day, cinema is a visual medium and looking good is imperative. So getting compliments for that is never a bad thing. And, if looking good is easier, I am thankful to God and my parents for getting married [laughs].

"On the other hand, when it comes to acting, critics are also people and their opinions are welcome. But remember, they are not the only audience. Apart from them, there are millions of people who are exceedingly encouraging, appreciative and generous with their compliments.

"I have learnt not to get carried away by the excessive appreciation nor do I get bogged down by their [criticism]. My biggest acid test is that directors whom I have worked with are the best in the business and they come to me with roles that go beyond just being a pretty girl. All this has helped me stay true to my craft."

Roshan pitches in: "I don't think good looks is about nice-looking features, especially for an actor. Good looks is about expressing yourself and those compliments stem out because she is a good actor. It's all about expressions, because you cannot express bad and yet look good."

For Hrithik

Would you ever consider working in an indie film with a strong or unique script? Or is it mainstream cinema and known production houses that attract you? -Amira, Los Angeles

"I purely go by instinct. If something inside me resonates with the script, then I just do it. Of course, there's always a mental gymnastics that I do before signing on a project.

"It's never the size of the production house that counts."

You are Bollywood's first super-hero. How do your kids look at you? -Milind, Abu Dhabi

"They look at me as a normal dad. The one who feels weird is me, because I sometimes watch them play with a doll-replica of mine. That's a bit creepy."

-Gulf News

As one of Bollywood's hottest on screen couples, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan, breeze into Dubai.

The actress snubs her critics once and for all while the actor explains the duo's intense chemistry to Davina Raisinghani.

"HE'S RUNNING A little late, so why don't we go ahead?" charmingly smiles Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, by way of explaining her flu-ridden co-star's absence. The muse-worthy actress (or at least that's what her director Sanjay Leela Bhansali seems to think) had swept into the room only moments before, looking resplendent, but surprisingly somewhat de-glammed, in a traditional white salwar-kameez ensemble.

"It always sounds a bit dramatic when either of us say it, but Sanjay and I have always maintained that ours is a past life connection," notes Rai. That is her oddball answer to how she came to be a part of the filmmaker's latest outing, intense romantic drama Guzaarish also starring Hrithik Roshan.

"Sanjay and I are so in sync with each other that it borders on cheesy. Sometimes we just exchange a look and know the other's thoughts on a subject. We can have entire conversations without uttering a single word. And that would always leave Hrithik and everyone else on the set feeling completely lost."

But it was more than just her inexplicable mental bond with Bhansali and his attractive promise to portray her in a never-seen-before avatar that got the 37-year-old on board; and the reason has nothing to do with her successful pairing with Roshan either.

"I am personally familiar with the situation seen in the movie," comments Rai, referring to Roshan's paraplegic character Ethan Mascarenhas. "In fact, someone from my family suffers from the same problem, which is why I didn't need to do much research for my character. But, Hrithik was completely at sea because he had no such interactions to speak of."

In her role as Sofia D'Souza – nurse, caregiver and eventual lover to the protagonist – Rai claims to have fit right in, once the look of the character was settled upon by her, her stylist and Bhansali. But, the actress insists, it's not as superficial as it sounds.

"It is easier to become somebody else once you have visually created them. The way Sofia dresses is unique. The length of her dresses is almost theatrical. Choosing to wear red lipstick on certain days is her way of dressing up for Ethan and bringing colour into his life. Or maybe it's an attempt to escape her own. She communicates through her silences."

It's a controversial life

Quietly whispered, but viciously nasty rumours, always seem to follow close in the footsteps of Bollywood's queen bee (she's earned that title). And sometimes subtlety is violently hurled out the window.

For instance, the latest piece of offensive gossip doing the rounds is that the rest of the Bachchan clan, inclusive of husband Abhishek and in-laws Amitabh and Jaya, are severely upset by Rai's intimate scenes with Roshan in Guzaarish and have asked the director to censor his work. But the actress simply laughs it off.

"Life has been very, very colourful. When I took my fledgling, baby steps into showbiz I was warned by a lot of my seniors that I would be in this for the long haul and during that time there would be a lot to put up with. I'm thankful to my parents for whatever it is that they ingrained in me that allows me to take it all in my stride. I only give reactions where necessary."

Rai's critics have also often accused her of using her good looks as a lucratively successful crutch; and her acting skills have just as often been dismissed as non-existent. But on this subject, the actress drops her nonchalance.

"Everybody makes the 'looks remark' when it comes to me but in my defense this is a visual medium. Since when has good-looking been a bad thing? I'm very happy for the genes I've received from my parents. It has just made my creative pursuit easier. The box office results of my films have also never been the fulcrum of my professional trajectory."

Enter the hero

A little later in the evening, when Roshan's up and about, we're led into a room filled with teasing banter and contagious laughter. It's an uninhibited version of Rai as she trades mock insults with her co-star, complete with juvenile, albeit friendly name calling.

"Aishwarya communicates through her nods. She indicates her disapproval or liking for a scene I have shot in that way," quips Roshan as he sits down. Rai is perched on a chair a few feet away, newspaper in hand, but glancing our way to insert a comment here and there. "That's the equation we have built, ever since we first worked together," adds the actor.

When quizzed on whether it is their off-screen friendship that translates into the near-tangible chemistry that the duo share onscreen, as seen in both Dhoom and Jodha Akbar, it is Rai who replies.

"Chemistry is on paper. It depends on the content, otherwise you have nothing to draw on. If that works, then any good actors should be able to bring that out on screen."

Meanwhile, Roshan had temporarily sacrificed his flawlessly sculpted physique to play Ethan in Guzaarish. He went as far as to abandon his extensive workout routine for four months, binging on greasy treats.

"I jumped from one end of the health spectrum to the other and my body went for a complete toss. I ate batata vadas (potato cakes) and samosas; I used to have like 14 samosas in one go. I thoroughly enjoyed it. But the severity of the damage was so evident because in those months my blood report just went through the roof. That's how bad these foods are for you.

"I had to do all of that because I'm really passionate about this film. And obviously you cannot have a good physique if you're playing a quadriplegic. The film is a festival. The spirit of these characters is a reason to celebrate. There was always laughter and music on set. Mr. Bhansali used to always sing and the guitar was never far away."

- Khaleejtimes.com

That part is so cute...i wish there was a video of it!! Love them off-screen!!!

Aishwarya & Aditya at Guzaarish Press Meet - Kolkata

Aish in London promoting Guzarish

so gorgeous! 😛

Originally posted by: sweet coco

Awwww thanks kat!!! Love her hair in the last pic you posted...def gorge!!

And OMG!! Adi's hair is for real....he's def gotten some amazing opportunities...akki-ash's son and now ash's hubby and hrithik's student in this film!! NICE!!!

Originally posted by: KatForeva

No problem! :)

Oh thanks for letting me know! I was wondering why he was there since he was in Action Replayy! LOL! thats really cool! He got to work with THE aishwarya rai! lucky!