Bhansali bends rules for Aishwarya Rai

Mumbai, Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known to be a stickler for strict schedules during filming, but he is voluntarily giving Aishwarya Rai a few days break from the shooting of “Guzaarish” so that she can attend the premiere of “Paa” that has her husband and father-in-law in lead roles.

“It’s no big deal. Adjusting my schedule is the least I can do for someone who has been a dear friend for many years. But this was not done for Aishwarya. It was for ‘Paa’ and Amitji. It’s a very special moment for the family,” Bhansali told IANS.

Released Friday, “Paa” is produced by AB Corp. The film is about a father-son-son-father relationship – while Abhishek Bachchan plays a politician, Amitabh will be seen as his 13-year-old son suffering from progeria, a disease that accelerates the ageing process.

While Aishwarya will play a perfect host at the “Paa” premeire Dec 3 here, Bhansali will shoot solo scenes with the film’s leading man Hrithik Roshan.

“Aishwarya is not just Sanjay’s leading lady. After doing three films together, they are family. Sanjay saw how stressed Aishawarya was trying to balance her tight schedules for ‘Guzaarish’ with the time required to pitch in with real-life pa for ‘Paa’.

“In fact, Mr. Bachchan has been running around alone inviting the film fraternity for the premiere on December 3 since Abhishek has been shooting non-stop in Goa for Ashutosh Gowariker and Jayaji is in Delhi attending parliament,” said a friend of Bhansali and Aishwarya.

“When she expressed her helplessness about not being available for Amitji to make arrangements for the premiere, Sanjay made up his mind to give her those crucial days on and before the premiere off, although it meant considerable schedule adjustment on his part,” added the friend.

Aishwarya has been juggling her “Guzaarish” schedule with her duties as a hostess for family events to the best of her abilities. On Saturday evening she was present as an integral part of the Bachchan family with husband Abhishek, sister-in-law Shweta and the Big’s B bother Ajitabh Bachchan’s kids for a poetry reading on Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s birth anniversary.

“She had little time to prepare her poems. But she recited Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s lines like a true Bachchan,” said a close friend of Aishwarya.