Aishwarya Rajesh is remarkably composed about branching out into Hindi and Malayalam cinema. She says, “The camera will be the same, the angles are going to be no different. Only the language will be different, along with the ambience of the shoot in a different location.”
Her next, Daddy , is a Hindi film. A political drama, the fim is being directed by Ashim Ahluwalia. Post one schedule, Aishwarya is still picking up a few words. She says, “I was dumbstruck when the director decided to re-shoot a sequence when I said I was not happy with what I saw on the monitor. Coming from a National-award winning director (for John & Jane ), it showcased absolute professionalism.”
The Malayalam project is being helmed by another National award-winning film writer-director, Sidhartha Siva, and Aishwarya says her pairing with Nivin Pauly has raised expectations. “Nivin plays a communist leader and my character gets swept along in his journey.” Again, there is the small matter of picking up the language.”
Picking up Hindi was relatively easy for Aishwarya, whose mother tongue is Telugu. “I had a lot of Marwari friends, both in Holy Angels School and Ethiraj College. I am a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan; I have not missed any of his films since I got hooked to Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. I still remember the audience reactions while watching Kuch Kuch Hota Hai . His running on the bridge had that distinct style.”
Aishwarya is waiting to watch Kabali after viewing the teaser, and is in awe of the Superstar. “The moment when Thalaivar is on screen is enough to make your day. Rajini sir made such an impact in Padayappa and I have watched it five times.”
With four films in post-production, and having bagged Dharma Durai with Vijay Sethupathi, the Kaaka Muttai sensation has every reason to smile. The latter film helped her get the Malayalam film, for which she was not the original choice.
“I understood that the makers were not happy with their original choice. It was then that Kaaka Muttai had released and word went around. That is how I possibly got the Hindi film as well.”
