Ash meets Kiranjit
by: Subhash K. Jha
- mumbaimirror.com
This could be Aishwarya Rai's comeback to form, her performance in Jagmohan Mundra's Provoked. “My performance in the film is straight from the heart,” says Ash. “I feel completely for Kiranjit Ahluwalia and all other victims of domestic violence.”
Provoked producer Dr J. Murli Manohar pulled off a coup for his film when, for the premiere of Provoked at Cannes, he convinced the real-life Kiranjit Ahluwalia to share the stage with her stunning celluloid avatar.
Minutes before the screening, however, Kiranjit Ahluwalia got cold feet and refused to go into the theatre in Cannes to re-live the trauma of her own life. It was Aishwarya Rai (who plays Kiranjit in Provoked) who convinced Kiranjit to watch the film.
Kiranjit wept all through the film. Some of the scenes showing domestic violence were too close to home for her. She was especially moved by the scenes showing Kiranjit's anguish in prison at being separated from her children. “The younger son in the film looked just like my own younger one,” said Kiranjit.
Speaking from Cannes, producer Sunanda Murli said, “Kiranjit was very reluctant to make any public appearance. But we convinced her that it was imperative for her to be here to share this moment with Aishwarya. The film is her story, after all.”
Adds Aishwarya, “I didn't meet Kiranjit before accepting the film. I didn't want to get influenced in my performance. But the film is finally a triumphant fable of her struggle and victory against oppression.”
Incidentally, while at Cannes Ash is also expected to be finalised for the lead in the third part of Brett Ratner's Jackie Chan action-comedy Rush Hour.
Not only that. Ash is the face and Brand Ambassador for L'Oreal who are the sponsors of the Festival.
Provoked was premiered at Cannes with a press conference on May 19.
The producers of the Rai-starrer Last Legion Tarak Ben Ammar & Dino DeLaurentiis will hold a private party for Ash. She will also complete her remaining dubbing for Last Legion in Nice, France during her brief stay and will try to get a sneak preview of the film.
For the opening ceremony Ash wore a tightly fitted black Armani couture gown. The following evening she wore a deep-blue couture gown byRoberto Cavalli. Both evenings she dazzled in jewels by De Grisogno of Geneva.
Related Links:
05/18/06 Indian biggies target Cannes mart - indiaenews.com
05/18/06 Cannes is a high for Ash - timesofindia.com
05/18/06 Ash to promote movie at Cannes - ibnlive.com
05/15/06 Queen of Bollywood turns into battered wife
05/15/06 For your eyes only - mumbaimirror.com
05/14/06 Provoked among Indian films to be featured at Cannes
04/26/06 'We are waiting to unveil Provoked at Cannes' - mid-day.com
Provoked: News Updates
Aishwarya at Cannes 2006: Photos
Cannes 2002-5: Photos
