In this film, Aishwarya played , an immortal "Mistress of Spices" living in San Francisco.
Before Guru , Aishwarya played mostly victims or heroines. In Mani Ratnam’s epic Guru , she plays Sujata, the wife of a newspaper baron (Mithun Chakraborty’s character), who has an affair with the protagonist, Gurukant Desai (Abhishek Bachchan). This is the classic "married woman taking a lover" trope. In this film, Aishwarya played , an immortal
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: Iconic Filmography and Notable Movie Moments This is the classic "married woman taking a lover" trope
The mistress trope is most poetic in Umrao Jaan , the adaptation of Mirza Hadi Ruswa’s novel. As a tawaif (courtesan) in 19th-century Lucknow, Umrao Jaan is the ultimate "other woman"—loved by Nawabs but never allowed into their legitimate homes. Aishwarya Rai's impact on Indian cinema extends beyond
Aishwarya Rai's impact on Indian cinema extends beyond her filmography. She has:
The film’s high point is the song Pehle Pehel , where Umrao Jaan performs for a British officer. However, the notable movie moment comes later when her lover, Nawab Sultan (Abhishek Bachchan), marries a noblewoman. There is a scene where Umrao ties a rakhi to her former lover’s brother to prove she has no romantic intentions anymore. Yet, the camera lingers on her eyes—she smiles, but the smile doesn’t reach her eyes. Aishwarya mastered the art of the teary-eyed smile , suggesting that a mistress never truly stops loving, only stops showing it.
While Aishwarya plays Paro, the primary love interest, the film's thematic exploration of the courtesan role is central. Aishwarya’s portrayal of a woman whose love is technically forbidden after her marriage, coupled with her intense rivalry and eventual camaraderie with Chandramukhi (the courtesan), highlights her mastery of tragic romance.