Aishwarya Rai 'Knows How To Play With You', Says Zayed Khan: 'Had Her Picture In Locker Room'
Aishwarya Rai captured the hearts of millions across the globe when she became Miss World. Zayed Khan was no exception. The actor used to have Aishwarya's posters in his locker room. As such, when he got the opportunity to work with her in Shabd, Zayed quickly agreed. In a recent chat with Siddharth Kannan, Zayed Khan opened up about working with Aishwarya Rai.
Zayed Khan said, 'Shabd was the film that showed a married woman falling in love with a young man. Strangely, all the films that I had chosen were ahead of their time. Shabd had a good story. It was a slice of life told at a time when people weren't ready for it."
He added, 'I was a fan of Aishwarya when she became Miss World. I used to have her picture in the locker room. When I heard the script of the film and learned that Aishwarya is in the film, I quickly asked, 'Where do I sign on?' I had a wonderful experience working with her."
Zayed explained, 'She really knows how to play with you. There are actors who take time to come on set, and there is drama, and actual work is suffering; that's the worst situation to be in. But with Aishwarya, I thought it would be tough to break my fan moment, but she so naturally just said 'hi' and asked me if I wanted to do rehearsals first. She is so beautiful, it's like porcelain, it's not possible. Today, people do filters and all, but she had a natural filter."
About Shabd
Shabd (2005), directed by Leena Yadav, is a psychological drama that delves into the blurred lines between reality and fiction. The film stars Aishwarya Rai as Antara, a college lecturer, and Zayed Khan as Yash Agnihotri, a young admirer who becomes entangled in a complex narrative orchestrated by Antara's husband, Shaukat Vashisht, portrayed by Sanjay Dutt.
The story unfolds as Shaukat, a celebrated author, grapples with writer's block. In a desperate bid for inspiration, he manipulates his wife's emotions by encouraging her to engage with Yash, hoping to fuel his creative process. This psychological experiment spirals out of control, leading to unforeseen consequences for all involved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Anil Sharma refuses to take credit for Priyanka Chopra's success, recalls casting her without a screen test in her debut: ‘She still has the middle-class sanskaar of a UP family'
Before becoming one of India's most celebrated exports to Hollywood, Priyanka Chopra began her Bollywood journey under the direction of Anil Sharma . Fresh off her Miss World 2000 win, she made her acting debut in The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003) alongside Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta . The big-budget spy thriller, touted as the most expensive Indian film of its time, not only earned her an award for Best Supporting Actress but also marked the first step in a career that would turn her into a global icon. 'It is all her hard work' In a recent interview with News18, director Anil Sharma downplayed being credited for Priyanka 's success. 'It is all her hard work,' he said, before recounting how he first saw her on television when she was crowned Miss World. Impressed by her beauty, he invited her to meet him, and she arrived with her father, Dr. Ashok Chopra . Sharma recalled feeling an instant connection, noting they were based in Bareilly at the time. First role without a screen test Sharma revealed that Priyanka became the first actor he ever cast without a screen test. 'After talking to her, I quickly handed over the cheque. Just by speaking to her, I knew she was a performer,' he said. The filmmaker added that her dedication, along with life experiences, shaped her into the international star she is today. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Click Here Undo Sunny Deol, Anil Sharma play Holi with 'Gadar 2' crew 'She still has that respect for me' Reflecting on her personality beyond fame, Sharma described Priyanka as 'a wonderful person' who continues to greet him warmly whenever they meet. 'She doesn't hesitate to leave her group when she spots me. She still maintains the middle-class sanskaar of a UP family. She has become such a big personality today, par use asmaan ki hawa nahi lagi,' he remarked. Despite their bond, Sharma admitted that it has been a long time since they last met, as Priyanka rarely visits India for work these days. "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘Priyanka Chopra still hugs me with so much love, hasn't forgotten her middle-class values,' says Anil Sharma: ‘She has become a global star, par asmaan ki hawa nahi lagi'
After winning the Miss World crown in 2000, Priyanka Chopra made her Bollywood debut with Anil Sharma's 2003 film The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, alongside Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta. Considered the most expensive Indian film of its time, Hero earned Priyanka the Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actress and marked the beginning of her meteoric rise in cinema, eventually making her a global icon. In a recent interview, when Hero director Anil Sharma was credited with Priyanka Chopra's success, he was quick to interject, saying, 'It is all her hard work.' Speaking to Showsha, the filmmaker recalled the time when he cast Priyanka for his film. 'I saw Priyanka Chopra for the first time on television when she was crowned Miss World in 2000. I found her to be very pretty. I invited her to meet me. She came along with her father Dr Ashok Chopra. He was a nice man. As soon as I met them, it felt like they were my own people. Back then, they lived in Bareilly.' He added, 'When I met Priyanka, she became the first girl whom I cast without taking a screen test. After talking to her, I quickly handed over the cheque to her. Just by speaking to her, I knew she was a performer. After that, she worked very hard and many incidents happened in her life, which ultimately made her a global icon.' ALSO READ | Love in the time of Gabbar: A real-life romance born on Sholay set; neither Dharmendra-Hema Malini, nor Amitabh Bachchan-Jaya Bahaduri Reflecting on Priyanka Chopra beyond her stardom, Anil Sharma said, 'She is a wonderful person. She still shows respect when she sees me. Whenever we meet, she hugs me with so much love. She doesn't hesitate to leave her group, when she spots me somewhere. She has that respect for me because it is the reflection of her upbringing. Priyanka still maintains the middle class sanskaar of a UP family. It is a huge thing. She has become such big personality today, par use asmaan ki hawa nahi lagi.' However, in the same interview, the filmmaker admitted that he hasn't met Priyanka in a very long time, as she rarely visits India for work these days.
News18
11 hours ago
- News18
Aishwarya Rai Was Removed From Film Because Of Her Pregnancy; It Flopped At Box Office
After Aishwarya Rai was dropped from the film, Kareena Kapoor stepped in but couldn't save the film from being a box office dud. Kareena Kapoor's Heroine is regarded as one of her best works for the depth and rawness that she brought to the role. The film was a Madhur Bhandarkar directorial and became the talk of the town due to its undertones and jibes at the Hindi film industry. However, the film was first supposed to be made with Aishwarya Rai, but the actress was replaced after she announced her pregnancy in 2011. However, the controversy intensified when Madhur Bhandarkar said that the actress had hidden her pregnancy. In a resurfaced chat with the Hindustan Times (2012), Kareena Kapoor was asked if she felt bad about replacing the pregnant actress. She said, 'It is a personal thing between Madhur and Aishwarya, and I am nobody to comment on it because I was not associated with the film at that point." She said, 'I am sure she would have done the film differently. In fact, I have always believed that she is the most beautiful woman in the film industry, and she is extremely talented and an icon to many, so I'm sure she would have portrayed the role brilliantly." Kareena mentioned that she didn't feel any pressure about replacing Aishwarya. 'It just so happened that our destinies crossed, and obviously, the way she would have done it is different from how I did it. We have our own individual style; we are two completely different actresses. She is also a diva… and Heroine too talks about the life of a diva, so I am glad that Madhur selected me to do this film," she said. Aishwarya Rai being replaced in the film due to her pregnancy caused quite a stir. However, in 2011, Madhur Bhandarkar claimed that the actress had hidden her pregnancy from him, creating complications with the shoot. 'The entire event would not have taken place if, at the onset, the actress had informed the state of her health and impending maternity," the filmmaker said, as quoted by India Today. He added, 'The truth was hidden from us. We learnt about the entire thing from news channels like the rest of the world, which said the actress was four months pregnant and she was due in November." The film was announced in Cannes on May 13, while we commenced shooting on June 7. There was a gap of 24 days, even if we had known the truth behind the maternal state of the actress… Things could have been reworked, keeping the state of matters in mind accordingly, and this crisis could have been averted," Bhandarkar said. Although Kareena's performance was lauded in the film, it failed to achieve box office success. Despite significant hype generated by the Aishwarya controversy, the film failed to perform well at the Indian box office. Today, it is counted among Kareena Kapoor's finest works, but it didn't get its due when it was first released and became a flop. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
