If you’ve seen Guru, you’ll never forget the grandeur of its sets, the beauty of its music, or the artistry of its cinematography. There are a lot of things that add to the film’s beauty, but it is the portrayal of Sujata by Aishwarya without which, the film would stand incomplete. This career-defining role, showcasing her maturity and poise, established her as a leading actress.
The role of Aishwarya in Guru
Released at the peak of her career, Aishwarya did not have a dearth of offers when it came to films. Internationally acclaimed for her stunning beauty, she was crowned Miss World in 1994. Yet, her careful selection of roles was something not many could anticipate.
Born to parents Krishnaraj Rai, who was an army biologist and mother Vrinda, a housewife, Aishwarya’s success story is one that has had a predominantly smooth run. The Miss World title helped in her casting and from then on, her performance on the big screen was something that few people could hold a candle to. Pensive and thoughtful, Sujata also stands a witness to the actress’ insurmountable merit.
Considering their past projects, it was a straightforward decision for Mani Ratnam to cast Aishwarya Rai in ‘Guru’. But her charming personality brought about a metamorphosis that could be noticed on screen. Never stealing away the spotlight from where it was meant to be, Rai’s acting demanded a scene to be focused on her. It was a kind of effortless appeal that attracted attention to the film and made it a box office hit.
Some incredibly beautiful moments in the film consisted of the song and dance sequences. “Barso Re” created a sensation and popularised the notion of the bubbly female lead dancing in the rain, and it still remains unmatched in Bollywood.
Presenting a compilation of the bittersweet moments in the trajectory of a relationship, “Tere Bina” had been widely recognized as one of her most significant performances on screen where the chemistry between the two actors becomes so palpable that even the audience is mesmerized.
The critically acclaimed climax scene in Guru, though, is what stole the show as the maturity and raw emotions portrayed by Aishwarya still remain irreplaceable. The film went on to premiere in the prestigious Tous Les Cinemas du Monde (World Cinema) section of 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
As a film shot mainly through locations in Mumbai, Madurai, Turkey, Badami and Melkote (both in Karnataka), as well as in Chennai, Pollachi, Chettinad region Tamil Nadu, and Athirappilly in Kerala, Guru mainly follows the rags to riches story of a young man, but Rai’s performance makes it as much hers as Abhishek Bachchan’s.
