CANNES, France – It's a safe bet that Indian actress Aishwarya Rai won't have to do too much research for her latest role: Bollywood's biggest female star is playing, well, Bollywood's biggest female star, the movie's producers announced on Friday.
"Heroine," by director Madhur Bhandarkar, is billed in the production company's press release as an "entertaining, daring, emotional, shocking, glamorous, scandalous behind-the-scenes account of the reality behind the world of glitz and glamour that our stars inhabit."
Still, Rai - a former Miss World - stated that the film, which enters production in June, is "not an autobiography, for sure."
Rumors to the contrary are "to tickle your fantasy," she told reporters at a news conference at the Cannes Film Festival. "That's what the viewer will probably be searching for, but very honestly, as an actor, it's your professional responsibility to give to your characters with absolute commitment.
"It's not just about you going out there and doing your own thing and creating your own character. It's the director who wrote it and that's the way it gets read and that's the way it gets eventually brought to life," said the emerald-eyed actress, whose many appearances at Cannes and contracts with international luxury brands have placed her among the most international renowned faces of Indian cinema.
Rai first came to India's attention when she was crowned Miss World in 1994. She's since made dozens of movies, including "Devdas," the pathos-filled musical that became a crossover international blockbuster in 2002.
The 37-year-old actress's personal life has also had its share of drama. Over the years, she was romantically linked to some of Bollywood's most famous leading men before marrying Abhishek Bachchan, the son of Bollywood scion Amitabh Bachchan, in 2007. The pair has made a few films together, including last year's action-packed "Raavan."
Bhandarkar is best known for his films "Chandni Bar" (2001), "Page 3" (2005), "Traffic Signal" (2007) and "Fashion," a 2008 movie starring Priyanka Chopra about the Indian fashion industry.
A release date for "Heroine" is yet to be set.
Also see: Aishwarya Rai Pictures
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
- Comment
