She seems to have taken to films like a fish to water. For Aishwarya, daughter of Action King Arjun, turning actor was always at the back of her mind. So when the chance to debut in Bhoopathy Pandian’s Pattathu Yaanai came, she grabbed it. “And I’m enjoying it immensely. I’ve discovered that acting is indeed my calling,” she tells City Express, during a chat on location.
The wind is worrying her hair and clothes at the Kovalam beach in Kerla where she’s shooting a song. But she gives the perfect shot, despite the sultry heat, burning sun and gawking crowds. “She has a lot of patience and passion for her work,” says her mother, who accompanied her.
Actually, Aishwarya seems to have got an offer to debut in Kaadhal when she was in Class 9. But her parents were keen that she completes her studies before harbouring any thoughts of showbiz. However, it looks like destiny had its way. She completed her schooling from Sacred Heart’s Convent, got her BCom degree from Stella Maris College and did a fashion management course in London, before the acting bug finally bit her.
“I feel this is where I belong,” says Aishwarya, whose modern dance training is coming in handy during her first dance number in the film. Any advice from daddy dearest? “He told me the importance of discipline and patience in this field. He came to the sets one day and left after watching a few of my scenes. He’s a hard taskmaster. So, the fact that he didn’t suggest any changes means he was happy with my work,” she grins.
So did she have any jitters on the first day? “I’m very comfy before the camera. I’ve been on shoots and seen dad doing post production work, so it wasn’t totally new. But, in fact, it’s only after shooting for a few days I realised the enormity of my dad’s achievement, having been in this industry for 30 years. My respect for my father has increased manifold. He’s become my role model.”
Aishwarya plays a class 12 student from a middle-class family in Trichy in the film.
How open is she to glamorous roles and liplock scenes in movies in future?
“I did discuss such things with dad once. But he deemed it as a professional decision to be taken by me based on the scripts that come by,” she concludes.