Cool & convincing

Manpriya Singh

Just because there are questions, doesn’t mean there will be answers. Be it Cannes, purple pout, Sonam Kapoor or Aaradhya, every part evokes curiosity, however discretion and diplomacy is all that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is ready to dispense with.

Her political correctness has always been snowballed into plasticity, every appearance of hers garners a strong reaction and each absence all the more. Starting with her absence from Sarbjit promotions in Punjab.

A film based on Punjab and she playing a Punjabi, a visit to Chandigarh was much called for. “The day of the press conference, my father-in-law was to receive a National Award, so we were all there with him in Delhi for the honour. That is the only reason I couldn’t make it,” Aishwarya Rai, latching onto director Omung Kumar for a way out of tricky questions, is convincing as she explains over a video conference the reason for her absence.

Sarbjit—a mixed bag

Aishwarya Rai: We respect critics, and recognise them as members of the audience. Films get made for the audience and their love comes first and foremost...By that measure, the positive response is way bigger than any mixed response....

Omung Kumar: We knew it would be a slow growth film and niche film and a word- of-mouth film. We were waiting for the audience to react, to come out crying. Even those who critiqued the film negatively, have said, ‘it’s worth watching once’.

‘I don’t carry my work home’

Intense as it might have been to play Dalbir Kaur, she never carried the baggage home. “Randeep said he was so affected with the character, he’d carry it back home, sit in the dark and stuff like that. As an actress that is not the way I will address my craft. I can’t afford to let it affect me. Even after a soul performance like this, after pack up, it’s Aaradhya and my life taking over.”

On Randeep Hooda earning the brownie points

A moment for the man who went through the ordeal for two decades! With the critics applauding Randeep Hooda as not just convincing but sweeping while playing the role of Sarbjit; does it feel like being overshadowed?

“Opinions are opinions. At the end of the day, if any part, character or performance is appreciated, as a team it always feels good. As long as it gets appreciated, which is much more important.”

Trollers, I don’t care

Art is art at the end of the day. Be it films, make-up or any other creative field. While opinions have always been there on any form of art, it all depends on your intention. You want to focus on the appreciation or you want to focus on the criticism. People will even find a way out to criticize the classics, be it Mona Lisa or anything else. As long as art evokes a response, it’s served its purpose.

manpriya@tribunemail.com