Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: Motherhood and Conviction Guide Career at Red Sea Film Festival

Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan captivated the audience at the Red Sea Film Festival 2025 in Jeddah, where she opened up about the clarity in her career choices and how motherhood has redefined her perspective.

The actor, who also had a viral interaction with Hollywood’s Dakota Johnson at the event, emphasized that her professional decisions have never been driven by insecurity.

Insecurity is Not a Driving Force

Aishwarya stated that her personal priorities, particularly her role as a mother, have kept her grounded and focused.

“I’m so busy taking care of Aaradhya, being with Abhishek, that I don’t get insecure if I don’t sign a film. Insecurities have never been a driving force for me,” she said.

She stressed that this clarity has been a constant throughout her journey, resisting the “voices around” that try to propel choices based on fear or competition.

Career Choices Guided by Story and Conviction

Aishwarya used examples from her filmography to illustrate her commitment to narrative over traditional “star vehicles”:

• Debut Choice: She recalled Mani Ratnam telling her that her first film, Iruvar, was “not really a launch film. It’s a movie. It’s a story. It’s not about launching Aishwarya.” Her immediate response was, “Wow, that’s the movie that I want to do,” because she wanted to be a part of the story.
• Post-Crescendo Choice: After the massive success and “crescendo” of Devdas, the industry expected her to sign the “next big film.” Instead, she chose to do Chokher Bali with Rituparno Ghosh. She explained, “What a beautiful story. That’s the movie I want to do.”

She concluded that her choices have always been about connecting with the beautiful story rather than predictability or following a set path.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was last seen in the box office success, Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), and fans are now eagerly awaiting the announcement of her next project.