Aishwarya Rai to play abused wife in British film

Details of actress Aishwarya Rai's next British movie were revealed at the Cannes Film Festival this week. Titled Provoked, it will also feature Buddha of Suburbia actor Naveen Andrews.

The project is based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, to be played by Rai, who left India to marry her husband in London. After facing domestic abuse for years she eventually retaliated by dousing him in petrol and setting him alight.

Ahluwalia was convicted of murdering her husband in 1989 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Her cause was taken up by the group Southall Black Sisters and the sentence was eventually quashed in 1992. The court accepted her plea of manslaughter on the grounds of provocation.
The case not only raised awareness of domestic violence, it also made British legal history in changing the way such cases were interpreted by law.

She later received an award from Cherie Blair for her courage and wrote an autobiography with Rahila Gupta, Circle of Light, on which the film screenplay is based.

It will be directed by Jagmohan Mundhra who has made two films; Kamla and Bawandar, both about real stories of traumatised Indian women.

"Provoked has to be made correctly, only then will it be effective," Aishwarya Rai said in an interview last week. "I think Jagmohan Mundhra is the right person to tackle the subject." She said it was part of his "trilogy of tributes to Indian womanhood."

The actress was in UK for Paul Berges and Gurinder Chadha's latest film Mistress Of Spices when she was approached with the idea. "I immediately consented. Within two weeks everything fell in place," she said. "It's the first time I'm playing a real-life character, so you can imagine my excitement and nervousness."

Producer Sunanda Murali said: "It's amazing how so many people relate to the story. So many people know about the story. It's satisfying to be involved in a project like this that has so much value."

Naveen Andrews will play the husband and Indian actress Nandita Das, a member of the jury at this year's Cannes, will play an activist working for Southall Black Sisters. Rai and Andrews were both recently in Bride and Prejudice.

British actor Robbie Coltrane will play Rai's barrister while Miranda Richardson will be an inmate who helps her in prison.

We dont know yet!!!!!
But Vivek Oberai says, he will marry Aish!!
Read:
I will marry Aishwarya Rai: Vivek Oberoi

"I will marry Aishwarya Rai," Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi said on Saturday confessing his love for the former Miss World.

"She has been very lucky for me. A right girl brings stability in one's life," Oberoi told Seedhi Baat programme on Aaj Tak.

He said when they started their relationship two-and-a-half years back people said it will not last.

"But we are still together," the actor was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the television channel.

On working with co-star Salman Khan, Oberoi said "Life is long and nobody knows what will happen, but right now I am in no mood to work with him."

The actor also said that he does not think that Rai is the most beautiful woman in the world. "The most beautiful woman is my mother, then Madhubala, Aishwarya is only third," he said.

Deemed by millions as the World’s Most Beautiful Woman, Aishwarya Rai burst upon the international stage when her striking beauty, poise and commanding intelligence won her the Miss World crown in 1994. She is the reigning Queen of Bollywood, the highest paid actress with her 30 films having been seen by millions.

Aishwarya Rai has already captured the interests of major US movie-makers and is excited about pursuing blockbuster productions, even though she accepts onscreen acts as timid as a kiss could provoke outrage in her native India. But Rai is hopeful she'll be able to collaborate with directors and scriptwriters in creating suitable alternatives to potentially raunchy - and offensive - scenes. Rai has said she's not too keen on the "anything goes" attitude of Hollywood to on-screen sex. In India kissing remains a no-no in films, where song and dance routines substitute for sex.

Spoof has learned that Aishwarya will test the waters in the US market by first appearing on some tasteful TV shows.

Roger Lodge, host of "Blind Date" --America's No. 1 TV dating humiliation show – said, “We’ve booked Aishwarya Rai to appear on a show segment where she will date Lorenzo -- a former stripper who wants to be a stay-at-home dad. He’s tired of the superficial dating scene, but wants to form a love connection and score on the first date. We’ll have to see how far he gets with Aishwarya.”

Simone Sheffield, manager To Aishwarya Rai, was pleased to announce that Miss Rai would be appearing on a special version of "Jerry Springer: Too Hot For TV" episode where the beautiful actress will fight with a 380 pound woman in a trailer over some guy with a mullet, no teeth, and a 7th grade education.

Aishwarya says that she is thrilled for the chance to show her talent to such a discriminating audience. “I’ve heard some wonderful things about Jerry Springer. He told me that many of the actresses on his show go on to become great Hollywood screen stars. He promised me that no one would try and kiss me or rip off my clothes. I am still a bit confused about why I need bodyguards on his show, but I guess it will all work out OK. I hope so… my mother in India will be watching on the satellite!”
The story as represented above is written as a satire or parody. It is fictitious.
Written by Morgan Truce in thespoof

Clothes, Casuals and Formals: I like structure jackets, form fitting gowns for formal wear and chikan salwaar kameez for casual wear. Jeans & T- Shirt do very well too. I hate anything that's fussy and frilly.

Favourite hero-heroine: Raj Kapoor, Nargis.

Favourite all-time movie: Casablanca

Food habits: Fussy About Very plain fare. I am not fussy about food at all. I can survive on dal chawal and vegetables.

Do you diet: NO!

What makes you happiest: My family and a very close group of friends.

What scares you the most: Roaches, I abhor them.

What do you absolutely hate: Gossip, hypocrisy.

Your dream man: Should be handsome but not necessarily tall and dark!

Your idea of love: Is what my parents share.

Your weakness: My willing-ness to take people at face value.

Your strength: My self-assurance. It's ever present even in the worst situations.

The most outrageous pass made at you: Nah, can't talk about it.

Your idea of bliss: Lies somewhere in the vicinity of my bed (I love to laze, that's all I mean!).

You're possessive about: The people I care for.

Motto: Be kind, there are battles being fought and not all of them are on the battlefield.

Best compliment you've received: A child at an orphange told me that my warmth over shines my beauty. I was bowled over!

MESSAGE TO FANS: Life may be one BIG drama, and we, character in it.... But....LIVE IT.....Every moment in it

Aishwarya Rai is on the top of the world. And it isn't just because she's playing the meaty role of a battered wife in her new film "Provoked".

"My recent visit to Cannes has given me a new perspective on our cinema. We really must push the envelope to go global... And thank God, my clothes didn't offend the delicate sensibilities of the haute-couture brigade back home," she told IANS on telephone from the sets of "Provoked" in London.

It isn't just her choice of clothes that has pleased her critics. Her selection of roles is also giving the 'competition' some seriously sleepless nights.

"Really?" Ash is disbelieving.

"So far, I've shot for 'Provoked' for just under a week. And it has been a truly revealing and gruelling experience. I've never played a real-life character before. And that too a battered Punjabi wife! Throughout the week Naveen Andrews (who plays the sadistic husband) and me shot those tough scenes of domestic violence.

"But we really didn't go into the black eyes etc. I don't think the impact of domestic violence depends on how much brutality you show on screen. Most scars that really hurt are those that no one can see..."

Ash trails off meditatively. And you wonder if the role of real-life battered wife Kiranjit Ahluwalia has triggered off some secret scars within her.

"Oh don't try to read meanings into my roles," she's back to being bouncy and happy. "I have to speak Punjabi and have I mastered it? Well, I think I've got the hang of it... One thing that I haven't done is change my appearance. I haven't gone into prosthetics or facial padding to look like the real character.

"A lot of people believe that an actor must look like the person she's enacting. But I think it's far more important to 'feel' like Kiranjit Ahluwalia than to look like her."

It's a hectic schedule for Ash, but fun. She has worked with Naveen Andrews before in Gurinder Chaddha's "Bride & Prejudice". And though Naveen beats the hell out of Ash on the screen, they're buddies off-camera.

"I love the atmosphere on Jag Mundhra's sets. Though there's so much violence to portray, the set is absolutely stress-free."

Later this week, Ash meets up with an important Indian director in London for what could possibly be the most important role of her career.

"Things are happening. And I'm so glad I'm part of the movement of Indian cinema towards the West."