By now, the world knows about how superstar Rajinikanth took his elder daughter to the disco at Ambassador Pallava for her 18th birthday, and quickly brought her out because she wanted to see one, and had done that. Aishwaryaa smiles when speaking about it, but recalls how her eyes welled up in frustration then.
It is everyday moments such as these featuring the Superstar, created far away from action-filled film sets and the glitz and glamour of the Tamil film industry, which pepper her book, Standing on an Apple Box . As she says, “It showcases his other side.”
Excerpts from the session:
What’s in the book?
Thoughts that rushed in when I pulled the threads off my memory. It’s more like a diary, and I regularly maintained one during my growing up years. I never held on to them carefully, though. These days, there’s no time to write a diary, and I don’t see myself blogging. My favourite writing tool is the pencil.
The format
I wrote from my heart, and the intention was to reach out to all. This book is not one where I showcase how good an author I am, my language skills or how well I know my dictionary. It’s going to be picked up by people from all walks of life, and I wanted to keep it simple. Brevity is very important.The 35 chapters are short, about two-three pages each, so people move from one episodic story to another.
Lawyer dreams
I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since school, but I could never take it up. Then, I was angry. Now, I know why I was protected the way I was. I’m doing my law now, though! But, if asked to choose between law and filmmaking, I’ll now choose the latter.
Mom as CCTV
My mother single-handedly raised us sisters, because dad was constantly away, shooting seven films a year, and nothing would go on in the house without her knowledge. She was the CCTV of the house.
Sheltered or spoilt child?
We were sheltered, not spoilt. Director Selvaraghavan used to think I was a pampered kid, but that was his perspective, based on where he came from. But, not being able to do things you want to though you have the means to, makes you feel your needs are not met.
Love story
Once Dhanush passed on the mobile phone to Selva, because he wanted to speak to the girl in his brother’s life. I said hello and introduced myself as Aishwaryaa. Rai or Rajinikanth, he asked in jest. Rajinikanth, I said, and he hung up, thinking he heard wrong.
Mentor
Selvaraghavan. We all follow a certain school of filmmaking and its traits are visible in our work. I believe 3 bore shades of Selva’s style of filmmaking. The tone and the treatment of the film were inspired by him.
Never an actress
This one month, I’ve been on the road promoting my book, and I’m tired of the makeup and the dressing up. You can’t look good all the time ( laughs ).
Describe in
one word
Bangalore: Childhood memories
Chennai: Heat
Singapore: Best holidays
Paris: Worst of my memories
Mumbai: Alien
Your favourites
Rajinikanth film: Thillu Mullu
Dhanush film: Pudhupettai
Selvaraghavan film: Pudhupettai
Aishwaryaa film: Yet to come
Childhood love: curd rice
Hate: Nothing at all
