I am a working mother, not focused on comeback: Aishwarya

Former beauty queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is returning to the big screen with “Jazbaa” after almost five years but she said that she didn’t feel she was absent from the industry.

“I haven’t felt being absent, though going by the time and the number of releases that we do have, of course, I wasn’t making movies. But a lot of ladies here who’ve completely experienced what I’m wonderfully feeling right now will agree that we have no concept of time. We don’t realize how time flies by,” she said to queries on her absence at the trailer launch of the much-anticipated movie directed by Sanjay Gupta.

In her last film she portrayed the character of a caretaker to Hrithik Roshan in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Guzaarish”. She was initially going to star in Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Heroine” but backed out due to her pregnancy and the role went to Kareena Kapoor. Duties as a mother to three-year-old Aaradhya kept her busy all these years.

“Being a working mother, I really did not delve into this absence factor. And probably that’s why I haven’t necessarily focused on the term ‘comeback’ There’s no going away from it and running away from it. And it will forever be the comeback film. So I’m not denying it but when I turn around and say that I haven’t felt it, that’s just the way it is,” said Aishwarya.

“Jazbaa” sees Aishwarya in the role of a lawyer stuck in a conspiracy. Irrfan Khan plays a cop and it also stars Jackie Shroff, Shabana Azmi and Chandan Roy Sanyal among others.

Irrfan okay being sidelined in ‘Jazbaa’

Meanwhile, actor Irrfan Khan, who will be seen alongside Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the movie, says he has no qualms in being sidelined by his female lead in the film.

When asked if he feels sidelined as the focus is on Aishwarya, Irrfan said, “I don’t think this is her comeback film. I don’t think she went anywhere to be back on screen. I am okay being sidelined. I think it is a good thing as I would be getting sidelined by Aishwarya.”

“One of my biggest reasons to do the film was Aishwarya. I was looking forward to work with her. There is nothing exhilarating than a mother taking care of her baby and at the same time working... doing the film,” he said.

“It is a beautiful experience for me. It was a great experience and I will cherish this memory,” the 48-year-old actor said.