Abhishek and I are brutally frank with each other - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan : Bollywood News

I dont think it would be fair to bring it down to numbers because it would sound very presumptuous of me to sit here and tell you this is the salary that I command, though I must confess it feels wonderful, like with any professional who commits to a job, to take home a good salary. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. One thought that after marriage things might change a bit and I am not solely responsible for the fact that this is not so. It is definitely the kind of work I have behind me and the kind of film-makers I have been working with, that they are forward thinking enough to transcend and rise above this mindset that existed earlier and perceive me as an actor, a professional passionate about my job. And then, everyone gets married, everyone goes on maternity leave.... What is different about her perception of herself is that she sees herself as destinys child. Gods chosen one, his out and out favourite.

Director Vipul Shah, prowling his sets, cell phone in hand, even as we wind down our shoot with the setting sun, ticks off the reasons he counts that make Aishwarya one of the most powerful personages in Bollywood. She is the first actress who has actually done Hollywood films; internationally she is the face of Indian cinema and she is the most beautiful, fantastic dancer. She gives more than 100 per cent to whatever she does and we get tired, almost, of her perfectionist attitude. Why, I ask him, is she a star when there have been so many beauties, so many sensuous dancers, so many convincing actors? In spite of her being so exquisitely beautiful, she has a girl next door quality - that combination is extraordinary. The appeal of a Waheeda Rehman, a Meena Kumari or a Saira Banu - an appeal almost from another age? Aishwarya paradoxically taps into the fantasy of accessibility while keeping the distance. And then, there is that masterstroke of innovation or fate, whichever way you see it. And, of course, being the Bachchan bahu multiplies the situation. Husband and scion of Indian cinemas first family, Abhishek Bachchan and she have become akin to romance royalty, a couple in love, walking the red carpet hand in hand, imparting freshness and normalcy to the film industry.

In retrospect, how much did this high-profile alliance grow her already powerful stature? This marriage has not been about names coming together or creating a force to reckon with for a perfect alliance. Very honestly, this is a boy and a girl who fell in love and got married with their parents blessings...thats really our story - Abhishek and Aishwarya love each other. We have, very consciously in the first two years of our marriage, not commercially exploited our alliance in terms of doing endorsements together. We did not sell the rights of our photographs to magazines and try and make money, even though there were all those offers. Our alliance has been accepted in a loving manner and this was proved particularly on our Unforgettable) world tour. We were like bride and groom to the whole world.

Says Subhash Ghai who directed her in Taal, where she metamorphosed from curly-haired pahadi belle to MTV superstar: I would like to believe that Aishwarya Rai is undiminished power in the world of cinema and glamour, not because she is a perfect beauty but because of her impeccable intelligence, strong inner spiritual power and sense of commitment to whatever she does. I am yet to notice a lowlevel remark from her side even about her enemies. She carries herself, her crises and her success with equal dignity. She is my favourite as a person and actress....

Days later, I am waiting in the offices of father-in-law and superstar, Amitabh Bachchans company, A B Corp Limited, in Mumbais Juhu district, feeling rather small amongst the somehow discreet line-up of the dozens of awards, statuettes, citations that the Bachchans seem to have amassed. There must be a special person just to clean and polish these! Abhishek in track pants, walks in and out again. I am waiting still. If Aishwarya views herself as the modern professional at the top of her career, then her double-edged position of power has cocooned her in her own reality which has little bearing on the world around and such mundane things as passing time. She has been in a meeting all morning. She fusses typically about her father-in-laws lunch (it is almost time for tea) even as she leads me to a well-appointed room with a large TV screen and stacks of DVDs piled up. A painting of Abhishek, in abstract colours, takes pride of place on the wall. This is a room that has the feel of conversations and obsessive film viewing. Its where I finally settle for a chat with Bollywoods reigning queen...who ponders a lot, talks a lot and so we have here Aishwarya unfiltered...

"Abhishek and I are brutally frank with each other" - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan