<p>Regarded widely as the epitome of beauty and glamour, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan says she wanted to be known more for her performance than looks.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The former Miss World, 41, who is making a comeback to the big screen after five years with "Jazbaa", said there was a perception in people's mind that she will opt for glamorous role but she preferred otherwise.<br /><br />"When I chose to start my career with 'Iruvar', I genuinely believed I was liberating myself as an actor. I came to the industry after Miss World, modelling... There was obvious perception that 'Aishwarya Rai means glamour'.<br /><br />"So when I chose to work with Mani Ratnam in a south Indian film like 'Iruvar', which had Mohanlal, Revathi, Tabu, I wanted to be free as an artist. I didn't want to be in the mould of perception... I wanted to be free from this perception," she told reporters here during the promotion of the film in the capital.<br /><br />In the Sanjay Gupta-directed film, which releases this Friday, Aishwarya plays a doting mother of a girl child.<br /><br />The mother of one took insights from her real life to portray the character of Anuradha Verma.<br /><br />"There was no apprehension of playing a mother. I would have chosen this film five years ago too but the difference is today I am a mother. So, I am playing Anuradha Verma in a given situation, I do know what a mother is experiencing. I have brought the truth towards acting through this film."<br /><br />Asked whether it was a challenge to strike a balance between motherhood and professional commitments, the "Guzaarish" actress said, "Every working woman, every mother has her own challenge to multitask. It brings a certain joy which is difficult to put to words but if you think I am looking content, it means I have found my balance."<br /><br />The actress said she did not have any inhibition of taking a long break from films to raise her three-year-old daughter Aaradhya.<br /><br />"I am a very committed mother, and professional. So only when I knew that I can balance both, I took up 'Jazbaa'."<br /><br />However, the actress does not like to label the film as her comeback project.<br /><br />"Honestly, I don't feel like I was gone anywhere. I became a mother and during that time, through advertisements, endorsements and social work, I was always in touch with fans.<br /><br />"Though I wasn't working in cinema but I really didn't feel that I was away. So, I didn't realise the time that has gone by." <br /></p>
<p>Regarded widely as the epitome of beauty and glamour, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan says she wanted to be known more for her performance than looks.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The former Miss World, 41, who is making a comeback to the big screen after five years with "Jazbaa", said there was a perception in people's mind that she will opt for glamorous role but she preferred otherwise.<br /><br />"When I chose to start my career with 'Iruvar', I genuinely believed I was liberating myself as an actor. I came to the industry after Miss World, modelling... There was obvious perception that 'Aishwarya Rai means glamour'.<br /><br />"So when I chose to work with Mani Ratnam in a south Indian film like 'Iruvar', which had Mohanlal, Revathi, Tabu, I wanted to be free as an artist. I didn't want to be in the mould of perception... I wanted to be free from this perception," she told reporters here during the promotion of the film in the capital.<br /><br />In the Sanjay Gupta-directed film, which releases this Friday, Aishwarya plays a doting mother of a girl child.<br /><br />The mother of one took insights from her real life to portray the character of Anuradha Verma.<br /><br />"There was no apprehension of playing a mother. I would have chosen this film five years ago too but the difference is today I am a mother. So, I am playing Anuradha Verma in a given situation, I do know what a mother is experiencing. I have brought the truth towards acting through this film."<br /><br />Asked whether it was a challenge to strike a balance between motherhood and professional commitments, the "Guzaarish" actress said, "Every working woman, every mother has her own challenge to multitask. It brings a certain joy which is difficult to put to words but if you think I am looking content, it means I have found my balance."<br /><br />The actress said she did not have any inhibition of taking a long break from films to raise her three-year-old daughter Aaradhya.<br /><br />"I am a very committed mother, and professional. So only when I knew that I can balance both, I took up 'Jazbaa'."<br /><br />However, the actress does not like to label the film as her comeback project.<br /><br />"Honestly, I don't feel like I was gone anywhere. I became a mother and during that time, through advertisements, endorsements and social work, I was always in touch with fans.<br /><br />"Though I wasn't working in cinema but I really didn't feel that I was away. So, I didn't realise the time that has gone by." <br /></p>