One actress who really turns the tide and still reigns supreme bagging the choicest heroine-oriented, author-backed roles in Bollywood it is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Give any character to her and she fits into it like a glove.

Then be it the ‘Parvati’ a.k.a ‘Paro’ of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas, ‘Umrao Jaan’ of J P Dutta’s Umrao Jaan or now ‘Jodhaa’ in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Jodhaa Akbar. In fact, enacting the historical character in period costume dramas seems to be her forte.

Here she speaks at length about her character:

There are many myths enveloping the characters of Queen Jodhaa and King Akbar. Are you aware of it?

Not really! I think my director Ashutosh Gowarikar will be the right person to answer that. In a way the answer to your roundabout query will be that no, I have done no homework, no research for my character of Queen Jodhaa in Jodhaa Akbar. But of course I took training in horse riding and sword fighting. I had taken a similar training for Doug Lefler’s The Last Legion and to some extent for Harald Zwart’s The Pink Panther Deux. Coming back to Jodhaa Akbar, I have relied totally on my director’s script and his instructions on how to take care of the body language of a woman, especially one belonging to a princely family of that era.

But is there a mention of these myths in the script?

I can’t say much about the script as I have not gone through it in totality but concentrated only on my characterisation and my lines.

But of course I have read the Moghul history earlier so I am aware of the so-called myths concerning their first meeting and regarding their names. And I think Ashutosh has stayed as close to the factual details as possible barring their romantic overtures, which have been partly fictionalised.

So what other special preparations have you undertaken to lend a touch of finesse to your role in the film?

I first took care of the basics like costumes in lieu with Neeta Lulla, the hair style with my hairdresser, the make up with my make up dada et al. Then I read the script thoroughly especially concerning my part a number of times with total dedication. I even rehearsed for many days, that is, whenever I could with the entire cast and the crew. Besides my director Ashu really helped me a lot in interpreting the role to a tee.  He carefully narrated the exact nuances of the character.

This is for the first time that I have shot for a film in one long schedule, in one location of Karjat studio. The concentration was undivided even during the dubbing sessions.

Needless to say that unlike all the other directors that I have worked with till this date even Ashu is a class apart, a perfectionist in his own right. You should have seen him on the sets taking care of each and every minute detail of the 16th century era of the Moghul period.

Did you face any difficulties while shooting?

Oh! A lot that I can’t even mention. First of all the heavy costumes and jewellry... every time I used to change one from the other I used to get tired. Then the long patient wait during the set lighting sessions. And I couldn’t
relax in between the shots as I felt I would lose touch with the emotions of the character.   

Pencil in, a brief narration of your role in tandem with the exact relationship with the main plot of Jodhaa Akbar?

As we all know, it recounts the love story of a Muslim Moghul emperor Jallalludin a.k.a Akbar with a Hindu woman Hira Kunwari a.k.a Jodhabai. A woman who after the inter-caste marriage was named Marium Uz Zamani for the rest of her life. But of course, they were more popularly known as Queen Jodhaa and Akbar hence the title Jodhaa Akbar. I can’t reveal more.

Was there any tension when you met Hrithik Roshan post marriage and the Dhoom 2 kissing controversy, on the sets of ‘Jodha Akbar’?

No! Not at all! The Dhoom 2 kissing controversy has been beaten to death, so let’s forget about it. And thanks to Ashu, our on screen chemistry was recreated. No! I don’t think we felt any discomfort during the entire schedule. I enjoyed shooting with Hrithik Roshan for Jodhaa Akbar before marriage, during marriage preparations and even after marriage.

What next Mrs Bachchan?

I am waiting with baited breath for the release of Jodhaa Akbar, Sarkar Raj, The Last Legion and The Pink Panther Deux.