While promoting her upcoming film, Ponniyin Selvan 2, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan reacted to playing a character named Nandini again on screen after 23 years.
In 1999, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stole millions of hearts as Nandini in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s love triangle, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam co-starring Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn. 23 years later, the actress is once again playing a character named Nandini in Mani Ratnam’s upcoming historical epic, Ponniyin Selvan 2.
At a recent press meet for the film in Mumbai, Aishwarya reacted to this and said that she feels blessed to get a chance to play such strong and relatable women on screen.
Calling it a ‘beautiful coincidence’, the diva said, “It’s amazing na ki aisa hua bhi hai (it’s amazing to know that such a thing actually happened). In fact, yes even Nandini in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was very, very memorable. She has lived on people’s hearts and I am so, so thankful that I got to play Nandini then too and she has remained special for the audience and of course to me. And that was with Sanjay Bhansali ji and today of course with my Mani garu I got to play Nandini in Ponniyan Selvan. I mean that’s just tremendously a blessing that I got to play such strong women, such layered women and women with character that touches the lives of so many women out there. There is a relatability, so I’m very very very grateful.”
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Previously, Aishwarya had opened up on how she had envisioned Nandini’s character for the Ponniyin Selvan universe. The actress shared that she was lost herself in Mani Ratnam’s vision when he narrated her the script. She also shared that they would film from sunrise till sunset and that everybody brought energy to the table.
Ponniyin Selvan is based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s historical fiction novel by the same name.
