Cannes 2016: Aishwarya recalls her first appearance at the gala event - Hindustan Times
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Cannes 2016: Aishwarya recalls her first appearance at the gala event

ByIANS, New Delhi
May 11, 2016 03:37 PM IST

The actor who went to Cannes with her filmD evdas in 2002 goes down the memory lane and talks about her first experience at the French town.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan first went to the Cannes Film Festival with Devdas, back in 2002. She will soon be completing 15 years of going to the prestigious film fest in 2016. And the actor says she still cherishes her first outing at the gala. No one “in the world can take away that” from her, she adds.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan played Paro in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas in 2002.(AP)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan played Paro in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas in 2002.(AP)

Devdas, inspired by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 1901 novel, featured Shah Rukh Khan as Devdas, Aishwarya as Paro and Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi. The Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial was a cinematic marvel with revelry of dance, music hoopla and a tragic love story splashed with myriad emotions.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Watch Hamesha Tumko Chaha song from Devdas here:

Ask her how has the perspective about Indian cinema changed at the foreign films festival with time and she said: “I don’t know how much I can underline that or validate that but I would definitely say that my first experience was truly memorable and exceedingly special.”

“It wasn’t for an individual but the entire team of Devdas and it meant a lot to us because it was quite unexpected. Because we were showcasing our film and getting that kind of reception that we did was truly overwhelming,” said Aishwarya.

In pics | 30 unforgettable outfits Aishwarya Rai wore at Cannes in last 15 years

The actor will soon be seen Sarbjit, based on the Indian spy who died in a Pakistani jail in 2013. Seen here with Sarabjit Singh’s sister Dalbir Kaur. (IANS)
The actor will soon be seen Sarbjit, based on the Indian spy who died in a Pakistani jail in 2013. Seen here with Sarabjit Singh’s sister Dalbir Kaur. (IANS)

She added: “So the first makes it so memorable; imagine to have first experience and one like that so that is something and I don’t think anyone in the world can take away from us and that is something that will always make us feel thankful for having that experience for us to cherish and recount forever.”

Read: 12 years of Devdas | Shah Rukh Khan on his ‘favourite’ film

The mother of one, who is the brand ambassador of L’Oréal Paris, will represent the cosmetic giant at the upcoming edition of the film festival, scheduled to be held from May 11 to May 21.

She will walk the red carpet on May 13 and 14.

Read: I haven’t left Aaradhya alone even for a single night, says Aishwarya Rai

Reminiscing about the time at the gala, the star said: “It was a night screening... we always heard about how the duration of our cinema can sometimes be a bit overwhelming for the audience beyond the shores and Devdas by that measure is a long film.

Read: I work like no one works in the industry, says filmmaker Bhansali

The actor says they got a 10-minute applause at Cannes after the screening for the film in 2002. (IANS)
The actor says they got a 10-minute applause at Cannes after the screening for the film in 2002. (IANS)

They made the reception so wonderful by actually creating this little ride up in a horse carriage... The three (Aishwarya, Shah Rukh and Bhansali) of us went up and we truly felt like we were representing us. It just felt glorious from the first step on the red carpet.”

Watch Dola Re from Devdas here:

The film was showcased and earned applause in 2002. The actor became a jury member at the film gala in 2003. She then took her talent overseas by working in Hollywood starting with Bride & Prejudice in 2004.

Aishwarya, who will next be seen on the silver screen on Sarbjit, shared that the response was more than overwhelming. She said: “If I remember correctly we got at least ten minute applause continuously after that... it meant the world to us ... it was by far the most touching and overwhelming experience for us because like I said it was quite the unexpected and immensely pleasurable.”

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

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