In a recent interview the actress talked about her new film, Umrao Jaan, which comes out next month.

On being compared with Rekha, star of the original Umrao Jaan, Aishwarya says, "For me it's a special experience to get the opportunity to play Umrao Jaan who has been already iconised on our celluloid. When I played Paro in Devdas, I went through the same area of questioning about how my role will be compared with the ones played earlier.

"Thanks to the support of the audience, an incredible film like Devdas made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali was appreciated. That strengthened my belief that in the world of cinema, we are here to tell a story for today's audience. Each time a story is told or retold, it is the interpretation of that director, told in his language of cinema.

"But it's an honour to be even spoken about in the same breath as Rekhaji. I am inspired by her performance. But I cannot ape her."

On playing Umrao Jaan, Aishwarya says, "Umrao Jaan was a demanding emotional journey. The process was satisfying, inspiring and challenging. I had always been greedy to work with this combination of director J P Dutta, lyricist Javed Akhtar and music composer Anu Malik. Performing to the songs was very memorable. Each song is a part of the narrative, part of Umrao's journey.

"Since our generation speaks English, we are not very fluent in Hindi, leave alone Urdu. I loved those dialogues and the experience to work and know about that era. For me, it was a study of Urdu on the sets under the guidance of JP and Javed saab."

On director J P Dutta, Rai comments, "JP is a committed taskmaster. I have danced to songs before. But he always added to choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant's steps, and that was quite challenging. He would shoot an entire mukhda in one shot. To do all the songs at that level required remaining focused at all times. In that moment, I felt I became 'Umrao Jaan'.

It was interesting to deliver a performance that narrates her passionate, tragic story. The film is also reflective of the art that was at its zenith in that era. The sex trade was associated with performing arts then and not merely prostitution."

Compiled by Cultural Correspondent