Aishwarya Rai Bachchan says her daughter Aaradhya joined her on the sets of Mani Ratnam's magnum opus ''Ponniyin Selvan – I'' and it was an enchanting experience for her.
Based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 novel, the much-anticipated Tamil historical drama chronicles the story of the early days of Arulmozhivarman, a powerful king of the south who went on to become the great Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I.
The 48-year-old star, who will be seen essaying the role of Nandini, the Queen of Pazhuvoor, said for her daughter, it was a cherishable moment to be on the sets of the film.
''Aaradhya is yet to see the movie. But at the time, she was sure enthralled. There are many here (referring to her co-stars) who have children and seeing a period drama is always exciting. She did get the opportunity to visit the sets and it was mesmerising for her. I could see that in her eyes,'' Aishwarya said at the film's press conference here on Saturday.
The actor shared how Ratnam's gesture to give the opportunity to Aaradhya to say 'action' turned out to be the most memorable moment for her daughter.
''And his affection is so sweet. I think what excited her the most was when one day she came on set and he gave her the opportunity to say 'action'.
''She couldn't get over that. She is like, 'Sir gave me the opportunity to say that.' So that's probably the most cherished memory. This is really precious and she values it already. I think, in growing up years, it would be a much-cherished memory,'' she added. Aishwarya made her acting debut with Ratnam's 1997 Tamil film''Iruvar'' and has since worked with the ace director for titles such as ''Guru'', ''Raavan'' and ''Raavanan''.
Working with the filmmaker is always a dream-like experience, said the actor and she credits Ratnam for shaping her as a performer.
''He is the perfect school and guru. I didn't come with any formal training. I just dived right into it all. I got to work with him. A lot of it is spiritual and divine and a lot of it is work ethic,'' the actor added.
While working on ''Ponniyin Selvan-I'', Aishwarya said, she was like a ''sincere student'', who earnestly interpreted Ratnam's vision.
''That's really our job as an actor. To have got the opportunity to just be a part of that in itself is an artiste's dream. Everybody here will echo my sentiment and are humbled, creatively content and regard ourselves privileged that we got to be part of his dream film,'' she said.
Ratnam said making ''PS-I'' has been a dream since he first read the original book during his school days.
''I never thought I would get into films, nor did I think I could make it. But it's always been a calling to be made. It was so spectacular, as a story and as an adventure.
''Several people have tried to do this before and have not been able to, probably because of one reason... they wanted to leave it for me. So I'm so happy that I got to make it at a time when the technology has improved tremendously,'' the veteran filmmaker said.
''Ponniyin Selvan-I'' also features superstars Vikram, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Prakash Raj, Jayaram, Jayam Ravi and Aishwarya Lekshmi.
Ratnam praised the team's cast and crew for supporting his vision.
''To be able to do it with this kind of cast and crew, who cared for the film and were willing to walk along, was very special. '' He also thanked Anil Kapoor for giving the voice-over in the Hindi trailer and Ajay Devgn for narrating the Hindi version of the movie.
Backed by Ratnam's banner Madras Talkies and Allirajah Subaskaran's Lyca Productions, ''Ponniyin Selvan I'' is set to hit theatres on September 30. It will be released in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
(PTI)
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.