There is guidance and value based upbringing for Aaradhya: Aishwarya

Doting mom Aishwarya Rai Bachchan talks about how daughter Aaradhya has taken to the whirlwind culture of Bollywood, and the paparazzi in her stride. As she wows the audiences and cameramen by posing on the red carpet of Cannes film festival, the young Aaradhya too fit right in by posing for the shutterbugs at the Mumbai airport, before the two left for the event. The actress talks about bringing up Aaradhya, taking Devdas to Cannes and more...

Often touted to be the world’s most beautiful woman, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has left dropped jaws in her wake at the Cannes film festival this year. Posing, as a flurry of photographers clamour to take her picture, the 43-year-old actress has been a picture of poise in front of the cameras.

But Aishwarya, who landed in Cannes alongside her five and a half year old daughter, Aaradhya, says she was surprised to see her own little daughter striking a post for the shutterbugs.

“At the airport (as she was departing) there are some pictures of her that have the gesture of her saying no,” she narrates to us over video call. “I asked her ‘what were you doing, waving out?’ She told me ‘I was saying no, no photos. I was telling them bas, bas please.’ It was so cute! She has kind of seen that around as well. Suddenly, I didn’t even realise, she also smiled and posed for one or two pictures.”

The doting mother cannot be more pleased about the way Aaradhya has been growing up. “This kind of spontaneous naturalness is lovely. I’ve been very particular that Aaradhya evolves, and develops her own personality, and she finds her own calling in this gift of life,” she gushes.

Aaradhya strikes a pose. (Photo: Viral Bhayani)

But is there anything in particular that Ash ensures Aaradhya does or does not? “There’s no instruction, or directions; there is guidance, there is value based upbringing. Natural upbringing is all I know, and I have known that from my parents. I will pass that on to her.”

Aaradhya having been born into a family of superstars, Aishwarya says that her daughter seems to have imbibed the qualities of being born to parents in the movie business, and that she is well aware of their profession.

“She’s aware,” asserts Ash. “I can’t say she’s unaware. She knows our profession, and she sees our posters and pictures all over the city, or on buses, and bus stops. I don’t have to sit down and talk to her about what her mother does. She sees it. She’s growing up with it and she knows it.”

Her daughter is a normal girl, smiles Aishwarya. “Even though she’s born to a lady in showbiz, I have kept it as simple as I could up until now. But she’s a normal girl,” she says. “This time, I joked with her teachers. I said I’m going for the weekend to play fancy dress for Aaradhya. So she’s trying to see me in princess gowns. I’m doing normal mommy-daughter things with her, but it’s worth every minute if I make time with her.”

At the film festival, Aishwarya imbibed the role of a modern day Cinderella in a stunning ensemble; a beautiful gown in her 16th appearance at Cannes. The L’Oréal Paris ambassador kept her hair loose, falling on her shoulders, owning the red carpet with her ethereal beauty, grace, and inimitable style.

Never hesitant about experimenting, Aishwarya takes even trolls in her stride, when they come at her. “If it gets nasty, I’m only human,” she sighs. “Having said that, I’ve never made it the fulcrum of my existence. I know for a fact that they will never do anything that will make me physically uncomfortable. If I’m uncomfortable, I won’t go that way in front of the world. So there’s no question about not being in sync.”

She adds, “I’m realistic, and recognise that there will be opinions. But there’s so much love out there. It’s wonderful; all your (the fans’) love only protects me.”

The actress relived her first Cannes appearance, by presenting Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2002 movie Devdas on Friday at the outdoor cinema. Excited, she says, “The first time was surreal. It was with Devdas that I came here, so it was very exciting for all of us. To have actually come on like that, and to get a standing ovation for the film was amazing. I was very touched when the brand informed me that the festival was coming with this idea lot of actress associated with L’Oréal will be presenting their cinema, which has been a great memory at the festival itself.”