Feroz Khan's death bonds Aishwarya and Fardeen

By Subhash K Jha

The Padma Shri pair Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan rushed back from different parts of the world to resume shooting for Vipul Shah's Action Replay in Karjat on the outskirts of Mumbai at Nitin Desai's studio.

But while Akshay proceeded straight from the airport on landing from Singapore Aishwarya on landing from Cannes took a day off on Monday to spend with her parents before leaving for Karjat.

"It was a long spell. Shooting in Karjat for prolonged periods is not new to Aishwarya. For Jodhaa-Akbar she was stationed in Karjat for so long that it became her second home. But now circumstances have changed.

After her father's illness, Aishwarya doesn't like to be away from Mumbai for prolonged periods. Even when she was shooting in the jungles of Kerala for Mani Ratnam Aishwarya made sure she visited Mumbai to be with her father.

Though she never lets it show in her work being away from home is very difficult for her now and would like to shoot as much as possible in Mumbai. Ironically almost all her films are being shot outside the city. "

Her father's health scare has bonded Aishwarya with others who are similarly traumatized by terminal illness in the industry.

Says a source, "Aishwarya kept track of Feroz Khan's health through Fardeen and when he passed away she was deeply affected. At the prayer meeting Fardeen and Aishwarya exchanged notes like two wounded war veterans."

Father's health is now Aishwarya's primary cocern. On landing from Cannes on Monday Aishwarya decided to break her journey to spend a day with her parents.

"It was something I had to do. I did it more for myself than for them, " she said before taking off to Karjat.