Bollywood glamour queen Aishwarya Rai - celebrating her first wedding anniversary with hubby Abhishek Bachchan in Miami on Sunday - describes her marriage as a "unique and beautiful experience".Excerpts from the interview:
Q: Tell me, how has marriage changed you?
A: Marriage is such a unique and beautiful experience in my life. I've found a wonderful new family. My maiden family and this family together provide me with more than enough happiness and security. What more could I ask for?
When I went back on the sets after marriage, there was no change at all. There has been a normal flow before and after marriage. Everyone wants to know how marriage has changed my life. Nothing has changed at all. Life has been one smooth flow. And though I didn't plan such a marriage, I wouldn't want it any other way. It has been wonderful on both the personal and professional front.
I remember when I got engaged and went back on the sets of Jodhaa Akbar in Karjat nobody paid any attention. They thought it was just another rumour. When I look back on the hours put in for Jodhaa Akbar, I feel it was all worth it.
Q: Your other costume drama Umrao Jaan was where love happened between you and Abhishek.
A: (Laughs) Now that you remind me of it, of course. And if you add Guru to it, Abhishek and I came together through these.
Q: Where do you go now? Will you be working selectively?
A: When have I not been working selectively? I've been working selectively since Devdas. I'm glad I've been choosing discreetly according to how much time I've on hand. That doesn't change now. I've committed myself to a couple of films now. I really don't know if I'm going to get more selective, because I never do more than three films a year. Let's see what the future holds. So many films I've let go because of the time factor.
Q: Abhishek told me you were willing to let go of Pink Panther because his grandmother (Teji Bachchan who died in December 2007) was critically ill.
A: (Falls silent) Firstly, she was not just his grandmother, but mine too. So I wanted to spend as much time with her as he did. Of course, actors are greedy people. They like to do all sorts of roles that come their way. However, I've never been one to detach myself from reality. I'd not want my family life to take a backseat to my work. I genuinely love my husband, his parents who are now my parents, and my own parents. I want to be with my new family, get to know them better because I got to know them so late in life.
However, I also know my professional responsibilities. When I came from my honeymoon, I went straight to the location for Jodhaa Akbar. I'm lucky to be married into a family, which is the epitome of professionalism. Of course, we want to spend time together, but we can't let work suffer. When Pink Panther was offered, grandma became really unwell. During Jodhaa Akbar I'd rush back to hospital as frequently as I could. I was reluctant. More so because this was an international project.
Q: What do you mean?
A: Well, in India the entertainment industry doesn't only go by the commerce. We do operate from the heart. There's room for domestic crisis in our film industry. Overseas, one is under serious contracts. Even though Abhishek encouraged me to take up Pink Panther, I made sure I left room in my contract for visits back home because I did want to experience Karwa Chauth and Diwali. Then I checked with my international manager to make sure that I could come back if, god forbid, grandma was in an emergency.
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