Yes to Hollywood, no to nudity
- thestar.com
Bollywood star and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai says she is all game for Hollywood flicks but is unwilling to titilate Western audiences with bold smooches and love scenes. Aishwarya, Hindi cinema’s best-known face overseas right now, has been tipped for possible roles in Western movies, including in a Bond adventure. She said on the sidelines of a shoot in Mumbai that she is averse to nude shots and would do a Hollywood movie only if it does not conflict with her own personal convictions.
“I only agree to do films if I am comfortable doing them. I have to be at ease while I am shooting my film, otherwise how can I give 100%?” she asked.
Aishwarya is currently starring in Bride and Prejudice, based on Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, which is being filmed by British-based Indian director Gurinder Chadha.
The actress, who made it to the cover of Time magazine last year, clarified that she has not yet signed up for any Bond flick, although there had been talks between her and the Bond filmmakers.
“Six months ago I came to know that the filmmakers of Bond movies were looking for an Asian actress so I approached them through my agents,” she said.
“At that time the script was in the air and nothing was finalised. But before anything could materialise all sorts of rumours started floating around that I had met Pierce Brosnan and had signed their film.
“I don’t know how all these rumours were generated. And finally, the script did not materialise so the role did not work out.”
But she is not ready to move offshore yet, she said.
“I have many projects in hand right now. If I sign for overseas films that means I will have to slow down my work in Bollywood which I don’t see happening this year,” she said.
Aishwarya has starred in some of Bollywood’s big hits such as Taal, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and the recently released cop drama, Khakee.
She recently fuelled Bollywood’s gossip mill by shooting a romantic movie with the man rumoured to be her off-screen lover, Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi.
