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28 March 2024

Does Ash feel Abhishek is a career jinx?

Aishwarya Rai married Abhishek Bachchan in January 2007 (FILE)

Published
By Miranda Smith

Does Aishwarya Rai think Abhishek Bachchan is a jinx?

What else would explain her continued refusal to work with her husband?

The Bollywood superstar, whose career is on a high after “Endhiran” and a critically acclaimed performance in “Guzaarish”, seems loath to repeat the mistake she made with Mani Ratnam’s “Raavan”, where she was cast opposite her husband.

The Mumbai Mirror newspaper reported that the former Miss World has turned down director Vipul Shah’s proposal to cast her opposite her husband in his next venture.

The paper quoted a source as saying: "Vipul spoke to Aishwarya about being cast opposite Abhishek. But she thinks she can't add anything to the project. In fact, Aishwarya suggested that Vipul cast Katrina [Kaif] instead.

This is not the first time that Rai has refused a film opposite her husband. In 2009 she turned down “Dostana”, saying the concept of romancing a second man while her husband was on screen with her and eventually walking away with a third person did not appeal to her. Later she refused “Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se” and then Abhineo Deo's “Game”.

Bollywood wags have speculated this is because Bachchan Jr has a hard time finding commercial success at the box-office, while Rai delivers more hits more easily.

When asked to confirm the story, Shah denied approaching Rai, saying: "So far we haven't really discussed the project."

Insiders say that the power couple have agreed to work together only when a project offers them something really novel and exciting to do. "They don't want to give the audience too much of themselves,” the source said.

That’s an easy explanation, all right! But is it the truth?