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Elegance is an attitude - Aishwarya Rai
By Filmicafe.com, 23 November 2008
By Filmicafe.com, 23 November 2008
Aishwarya Rai is glowing with happiness and patiently answers every question put forth to her. She was in Mumbai just for a day where she walked the ramp at the Longines fashion show and celebrated her father's 70th birthday. The gorgeous jet-setting diva tells us about her crazy schedule, her modeling days, loving Mumbai and being a Longines ambassador.
So how do you feel being on the ramp again?
I am filled with a strong sense of dj vu. Lubna Adams (the choreographer) is fabulous as usual and Gauri and Nainika rock! The models have done a great job too.
What is common between Longines and Aishwarya?
Well, we are perfectly comfortable with each other going by the duration we have lasted (9 years) in terms of our relationship. I completely agree with their motto, 'elegance is an attitude' because elegance is who you are, it is innate and not just what you put forth externally. The brand has been around for a really long time and it has had such fantastic ambassadors so I feel privileged to be in such fine company. It has a bit of yesterday and today which I relate to because I like simplicity, understated and it has so much history to it that has stood the test of time.
Has your dance background contributed to the elegant lady you are?
I do enjoy dancing. Dance helped me with grace and body language but that is not what I thought when I started dancing, I was very young when I started Bharat Natyam. It helped me with modeling because I didn't require any formal training. Everyone told me my dance background helped me with posture and gait.
Which was your first watch?
To be very honest, and I am really being honest here, I don't remember the brand. I was just so happy that Daddy had given me a present, a gift. My father has been a marine engineer and he was traveling abroad and he got me a watch when he thought I was of age to get my own watch. I don't remember looking at the brand.
How are you managing time nowadays: you have been shooting for Ravan and Robot, you are walking the ramp here and you have your have your family commitments?
The key word here is management. Of course life does get very hectic…it has always been and only gets that much more. You have to manage it without questioning how. It is about the mindset with which you take everyday forth and then you will be okay on the road. Only take on as much as you can chew and give it your best coz you have to be effective, otherwise you will end up in utter chaos.
You look very happy these days. Has married life taken over your career?
I am still working very much so, but going by the commitments I have: my films and my personal commitments. It all calls for a very hectic schedule but we are all managing it. It's been so far, so good and if it gets too much, you just need to cut down. I am working on Robot, I am working on Mani's movie, I have accepted Vipul's movie and Sanjay's movie, Pink Panther will release and I am speaking to two other people. So it is hectic. As far as happiness is concerned, thank you for noticing. It is just an internal emotion and I am thankful it shows.
What do you miss most when you are abroad and how do you make up for it?
In our lives, travel doesn't only mean going abroad. Right now we are in a remote place in Kerala so that is also being away from home. I miss family the most and if Abhishek and I are not working together, then obviously each other. Home is where the heart is and we want to be together. In terms of making up for it, we make very minute count as we value the time we have together. It is about being together, the place doesn't matter.
Mumbai is home to me. I love the city, it's my home and nothing is dearer to me more than home. I enjoy the pleasure of being at home because we actors are vagabonds most of the time, traveling around the country or the world and returning home is always a pleasure and Mumbai provides that comfort.
What made you go back in time and do Ravan, which is a period film?
It is a Mani Ratnam movie, firstly. Time may pass but I never seem to forget and I never will forget people that count. Mani is my first director and it is a pleasure to work with him. It is a privilege and an honour for any actor or technician to work with Mani firstly because he is a brilliant filmmaker and personally I have more of a soft spot for him and share a superb working relationship with my first director.
What are your New Year plans?
Like I am going to be telling you (laughs). New Year obviously is always family time, it's always been and I have married between last year and this year so we are going to spend time together. Until then we are working very hard on our films and New Year will be the window of time off that we intend to spend with each other.
The recession has hit the industry. How has it affected you?
We are all citizens of the professional world. It is going to touch everybody's life. We all have the ability to take the bull by its horns and deal with life for what it is. So you plan your everyday accordingly. I cannot speak about the business aspect of the industry because I am an actor doing my job and it's been so far so good.
So how do you feel being on the ramp again?
I am filled with a strong sense of dj vu. Lubna Adams (the choreographer) is fabulous as usual and Gauri and Nainika rock! The models have done a great job too.
What is common between Longines and Aishwarya?
Well, we are perfectly comfortable with each other going by the duration we have lasted (9 years) in terms of our relationship. I completely agree with their motto, 'elegance is an attitude' because elegance is who you are, it is innate and not just what you put forth externally. The brand has been around for a really long time and it has had such fantastic ambassadors so I feel privileged to be in such fine company. It has a bit of yesterday and today which I relate to because I like simplicity, understated and it has so much history to it that has stood the test of time.
Has your dance background contributed to the elegant lady you are?
I do enjoy dancing. Dance helped me with grace and body language but that is not what I thought when I started dancing, I was very young when I started Bharat Natyam. It helped me with modeling because I didn't require any formal training. Everyone told me my dance background helped me with posture and gait.
Which was your first watch?
To be very honest, and I am really being honest here, I don't remember the brand. I was just so happy that Daddy had given me a present, a gift. My father has been a marine engineer and he was traveling abroad and he got me a watch when he thought I was of age to get my own watch. I don't remember looking at the brand.
How are you managing time nowadays: you have been shooting for Ravan and Robot, you are walking the ramp here and you have your have your family commitments?
The key word here is management. Of course life does get very hectic…it has always been and only gets that much more. You have to manage it without questioning how. It is about the mindset with which you take everyday forth and then you will be okay on the road. Only take on as much as you can chew and give it your best coz you have to be effective, otherwise you will end up in utter chaos.
You look very happy these days. Has married life taken over your career?
I am still working very much so, but going by the commitments I have: my films and my personal commitments. It all calls for a very hectic schedule but we are all managing it. It's been so far, so good and if it gets too much, you just need to cut down. I am working on Robot, I am working on Mani's movie, I have accepted Vipul's movie and Sanjay's movie, Pink Panther will release and I am speaking to two other people. So it is hectic. As far as happiness is concerned, thank you for noticing. It is just an internal emotion and I am thankful it shows.
What do you miss most when you are abroad and how do you make up for it?
In our lives, travel doesn't only mean going abroad. Right now we are in a remote place in Kerala so that is also being away from home. I miss family the most and if Abhishek and I are not working together, then obviously each other. Home is where the heart is and we want to be together. In terms of making up for it, we make very minute count as we value the time we have together. It is about being together, the place doesn't matter.
Mumbai is home to me. I love the city, it's my home and nothing is dearer to me more than home. I enjoy the pleasure of being at home because we actors are vagabonds most of the time, traveling around the country or the world and returning home is always a pleasure and Mumbai provides that comfort.
What made you go back in time and do Ravan, which is a period film?
It is a Mani Ratnam movie, firstly. Time may pass but I never seem to forget and I never will forget people that count. Mani is my first director and it is a pleasure to work with him. It is a privilege and an honour for any actor or technician to work with Mani firstly because he is a brilliant filmmaker and personally I have more of a soft spot for him and share a superb working relationship with my first director.
What are your New Year plans?
Like I am going to be telling you (laughs). New Year obviously is always family time, it's always been and I have married between last year and this year so we are going to spend time together. Until then we are working very hard on our films and New Year will be the window of time off that we intend to spend with each other.
The recession has hit the industry. How has it affected you?
We are all citizens of the professional world. It is going to touch everybody's life. We all have the ability to take the bull by its horns and deal with life for what it is. So you plan your everyday accordingly. I cannot speak about the business aspect of the industry because I am an actor doing my job and it's been so far so good.
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