And Danny Boyle wasn’t just trying to make a statement. A different Ash in each of her ventures — that’s what Aishwarya Rai Bachchan aims for, even if it’s a minuscule role in a Hollywood film.

Your latest Hollywood outing sees you in an avatar which is far from your leading lady image...
It’s not about whether I’m the leading lady in a project or who my co-star is. For me, the film-maker, script and role are deciding factors. And I have always tried to defy the obvious and test myriad characters. That’s why there’s an Iruvar, Josh, Khakee, Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, Devdas, Raincoat, Chokher Bali and Shabd to name a few. As they have been saying in the West, ‘She is not house-hunting in Hollywood’. In fact, I’ve never done that. I’ve not gone to them looking for work.

Could you be explicit about your character, Sonia, in the Hollywood flick?
The role is in keeping with the film’s genre. It is a Clouseau vehicle and not an acting piece. Sonia is pivotal to the drama. But if you ask if the story revolves around her, the answer would be in the negative. In fact, all the other members of the cast other than Clouseau, are character actors here. The ensemble cast is fantastic. It’s like a Chaplin or a Laurel Hardy comedy.

What will be your response to detractors calling your role in the film a blink-and-miss one?
It would be a ridiculous response from those who know about the Pink Panther series. And for those who don’t, I would say that if they’ve accepted me in a Khakee and a Mohabbatein and weren’t so myopic then, why do they have to do it now? It’s just cinema.

Is it pressurising for you to choose the right project?
We, actors are very greedy. We’d love to do it all. Variety excites us. I’m blessed that I’m spoilt for choice in terms of projects. Time, schedule, the combo of script, role, film-maker and sometimes, my instinct, determine whether or not I’ll give my nod to a project.

What’s your take on Abhishek’s Delhi 6 and his on your next international release?
I enjoyed the latest from his stable. It speaks of an issue without being too heavy. We keep discussing how both films have a fantastic ensemble cast.

So, who do you think Abhishek rocks with on screen?
I’ve never got down to looking at it that way. Come to think of it, we both have been paired the maximum together. You know, apart from many factors, availability also becomes a criterion in such cases.

And what do you have to say about the Slumdog Millionaire bashing?
I haven’t yet watched SM, thanks to my schedule. But I’d say, it’s just a movie. Danny Boyle wasn’t trying to make a statement. It’s an international film after all, and you have to acknowledge Danny. And we are happy about Rahman, Resul and Gulzar saab. It’s time we applaud and appreciate an accomplishment.

What about Bengali ventures?
Well, Rituda has been trying to meet me during my stay here. In fact, I’m always open to working with him. He keeps talking about his ideas with me and there’s an idea that we are discussing.

Steve Martin is fantastic: Aishwarya

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who plays Sonia in 'The Pink Panther', says the fantastic ensemble is the best part of the movie. Read on for an interview...
Q. A lot has been speculated about your role, can you please elaborate on your character in the movie?

I play Sonia, a writer and authority on the Tornado who steals valuable artifacts from all over the world. And I am an essential part of the dream team who is trying to find the Tornado. But at the same time while Sonia is not a detective per se, she plays a very essential element and an almost important part of the dream team trying to unravel the mystery of the missing Pink Panther and trying to nail The Tornado.
Q. What you have to say about the story of the movie?

In this sequel, Inspector Clouseau along with a team of international detectives is assigned to catch The Tornado, the thief and retrieve the stolen legendary treasures & artifacts from around the world. It’s 'The Pink Panther' movie. It’s all about Clouseau and his adventures while trying to solve a mystery, and that’s essentially it.

Q. What according to you is the highlight of the film?

Apart from Steve Martin who plays Inspector Clouseau, I think what’s the best part of this particular movie is this fantastic ensemble in terms of the kind of cast that’s come together to create these various different characters. I think it was a wonderful idea to come up with a dream team, so you’ve actually pulled in characters from different parts of the world – you’ve got all these different nationalities – so you pick it up as the world’s getting smaller.

And your audience as multi-national as it is I think people kind of pick up the different parts of the world that these detectives have come from, they come together, and they bring in their own little expertise and their own little characteristics and their own little charm. And yet it’s so Clouseau, and hence his team is quite an extension of him.

Q. How was your experience working with the huge international ensemble cast?

It was wonderful working with the entire team. It was wonderful actors coming together. I mean Steve Martin is fantastic as Clouseau. And I’ve been an audience to all the actors in the movie and I’ve always enjoyed watching their work. So it was great working with Steve and Andy and Alfred and Emily and John Cleese. It was truly a great ensemble cast.

Q. What you have to say about your director Harald Zwart?