Aishwarya Rai was already a big star in India when she started getting offers for international films, especially after Devdas was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. This opened doors for her in Hollywood, including a role in Brad Pitt’s Troy. Though her part was small, she had to commit 6-9 months to the film.
In an old interview with SCREEN, Aishwarya shared her experience of being offered the role, noting that the filmmakers expected her to reserve a significant amount of her schedule, even for a smaller part. She explained that they required her to commit 6-9 months due to the film’s scale. At the time, she was unaware that Hollywood typically demands long time commitments to ensure stability and insurance for their projects and actors.
The actress explained that her role didn’t warrant such a significant time commitment, especially given her other responsibilities in India. She acknowledged the importance of the project but felt it was challenging to set aside that much time while being committed to smaller films back home. While she found the offers exciting, it was difficult to turn down opportunities knowing she might be leaving behind significant projects.Recalling the same, Aishwarya mentioned that many of her senior colleagues talked about a “glass ceiling” in international cinema, but she felt she was close to breaking through it. Even though she declined the role in Troy, Aishwarya continued to work on several international projects in the early 2000s.
Years later, in 2012, Brad Pitt reflected on the missed opportunity of not casting Aishwarya in Troy, expressing regret over it. He mentioned that he would love to work with her, praising her versatility and popularity as a Bollywood actress who has garnered significant acclaim in the West for her style and talent. He believed that their collaboration could have been a great opportunity. Ultimately, the role was given to Rose Byrne.
Aishwarya made her acting debut in 1997 with Iruvar, a Tamil film directed by Mani Ratnam, and quickly became recognized in Bollywood with Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. Her big break came in 1999 with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, earning her critical praise and making her a leading actress. Over the years, she appeared in many hit films like Devdas, Dhoom 2, Jodhaa Akbar, and Guru, demonstrating her versatility and charm on screen.
Aishwarya’s global appeal reached Hollywood with roles in movies like Bride and Prejudice and The Pink Panther 2. She became a regular at the Cannes Film Festival, where she was frequently praised for her elegance and beauty.
