Ash-Abhi Admires Mani Ratnam Abhishek and Aishwarya

Aishwarya and Abhishek have played a challenging and unique role in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Raavan’. The couple feels that the success of their role is determined by Mani’s sharp insight and hard work.

The Bachchan couple had a video conference interaction with the media persons from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, New York and Dubai. Mani Ratnam and Vikram also took an active part in the interaction.

Abhishek seems overwhelmed with Mani Ratnam. He feels that he is the only director in the film industry who has realized his true potential.

He said “I think Mani is the only one who knows my true talent. He knows it better than I know myself. He shows me what I am capable of. After I did Yuva, I could not believe it was me on the screen doing a character like Lallan. Same goes with Guru."

Aishwarya thinks Mani to be the reason of her existence in the film industry. Iruva was her first which marked her debut with the director.

She says "After my Miss World win I wasn't sure which career path should I choose. I was planning to complete my studies in architecture. But then one fine day I was told that Mani Ratnam would like to discuss a role with me and that was it. It was some God send message.”

"I could not believe that Mani Ratnam wanted to work with me. He is an institution in himself and his cinema speaks volume.”

Abhishek also holds some great views about the director and says “If any other filmmaker would have come to me with a script like 'Raavan' I would have said no because I know that I am not capable to do a character like Beera but it is Mani who always shows such confidence in my talent which is unbelievable."

The legendry director graciously replied back and said "Half of my work is done after I decide my star cast. Everytime I come with Abhishek it is about doing something different which he has not done before. It is challenging for both me and him and we always start from the scratch when we start something new."

He further added “For Beera I was so worried because Abhishek is so proper. Beera is this badly behaved character and I had to ask Abhishek to learn bad words and be abusive all the time... just let go to get right."

Aishwarya believes “I think all the stories can be drawn parallel to our epics because at the end it is all about inter-personal relationship. My character Ragini is Mani's perception of this strong willed woman abducted by Beera. And the story is about the dynamics between the three characters.”

Abhi adds further, "Raavan is about who is right and who is wrong and above all who decides about it. I think audience will take back is the question. Raavan is a story about this villain from his perspective, but then who are we to judge that he is actually a villain."