‘We
are
just
waiting
for
the
right
script.’
As
Mani
Ratnam’s
Raavan
completes
14
years
in
June,
its
star
Abhishek
Bachchan
goes
back
in
time
to
remembers
shooting
for
the
film
in
the
jungles
along
with
his
wife,
Aishwarya
Rai.
“Raavan
was
the
most
challenging
experience
of
my
life,
physically
and
emotionally.
It
sapped
me
in
every
way,”
Abhishek
tells
Subhash
K
Jha.
How
do
you
recall
the
Raavan
experience?
With
tremendous
love
affection
and
fondness.
It
was
my
third
film
with
Mani
Ratnam.
I
can’t
wait
to
work
with
him
again.
You
haven’t
worked
with
Aishwarya
since
Raavan.
We
are
dying
to.
We
are
just
waiting
for
the
right
script.
Shooting
in
the
jungles,
weren’t
you
concerned
about
Aishwarya’s
safety?
I
am
a
normal
man
and
a
normal
husband.
I
was
definitely
concerned
for
my
wife’s
well
being
and
she
was
equally
concerned
about
me.
I
believe
she
was
up
to
any
risk
that
the
role
demanded?
Oh,
she’s
very,
very
strong.
But
Mani
wouldn’t
allow
her
to
do
anything
that
was
unsafe.
Speaking
for
myself,
it
was
great
fun.
Ask
any
of
Mani’s
actors.
They’ll
tell
you
they’re
willing
to
do
anything
he
asks
them
to.
Was
Raavan
a
challenge
due
to
the
gruelling
jungle
locations?
Raavan
is
the
most
difficult
film
I’ve
ever
done.
It
offered
me
my
most
challenging
role
to
date.
It
was
deeply
challenging
for
Aishwarya
and
me
because
we
shot
in
the
jungles
under
the
most
severe
conditions.
Finally,
it
was
worth
it.
How
do
you
rate
your
performance
in
Raavan?
I
can’t
say
I’m
satisfied.
When
I
saw
the
film
recently,
I
realised
there
is
so
much
more
I
could
have
done
with
my
role.
Given
the
opportunity,
I’d
do
Raavan
all
over
again,
and
a
lot
more.
Raavan
was
your
third
and
by
far,
the
toughest
film
with
the
magical
Mani
Ratnam.
I
believe
Raavan
is
even
more
magical
than
Yuva
and
Guru.
It’s
territory
that
neither
of
us
had
ever
visited.
I
believe
it’s
Mani’s
most
massy
film
to
date.
You
know
it’s
funny,
but
because
Mani
has
a
fantastic
aesthetic
sense
and
he’s
constantly
raising
the
bar
with
every
film
of
his,
it
is
believed
that
his
films
are
high
art
meant
for
a
select
audience.
But
Mani
is
for
the
masses.
How
was
your
rapport
with
Mani
during
Raavan?
I
go
by
his
judgement
and
believe
he
knows
best.
Our
relationship
goes
beyond
films.
I
would
want
to
work
with
him
a
fourth
time.
The
entire
industry
wants
to
work
with
him.
Raavan
wrenched
you
away
from
your
comfort
zone.
To
shoot
in
the
jungles
wasn’t
easy.
But
why
do
a
film
unless
it
challenges
you
to
go
beyond
your
comfort
zone?
I’ve
always
done
films
that
remove
me
from
the
comfort
zone
and
put
me
in
a
place
I’ve
never
been
before.
That’s
one
of
the
main
criteria
for
choosing
a
role.
Focusing
on
the
emotions
of
your
character
Beera
while
doing
those
heart-in-the-mouth
stunts
couldn’t
have
been
easy.
That
was
a
double
challenge.
First,
I
was
doing
a
role
that
required
me
to
perform
the
most
challenging
physical
activities.
Then
I
also
had
to
emote
in
ways
that
I
had
never
done.
And
one
couldn’t
be
compromised
for
the
other.
It
was
very
difficult
but
the
pain
was
worth
it.
Mani
allowed
me
to
watch
the
film
as
it
was
being
shot.
I
knew
it
was
something
very,
very
special.
Did
shooting
in
the
jungles
bring
you
closer
to
nature?
It
couldn’t
get
any
more
natural…
we
were
in
the
jungles
with
the
animals,
insects,
waterfalls,
rain
and
nature
for
months.
It
was
Mother
Nature
in
all
her
glory.
I’ve
always
been
very
eco-conscious
but
this
experience
changed
my
life.
How
was
it
working
with
Vikram?
I’ve
known
Vikram
for
a
very
long
time.
He’s
a
very
sweet
chap.
I
take
it
as
a
compliment
when
co-stars
enjoy
working
with
me.
Making
a
film
should
be
as
much
fun
as
watching
it.
Closing
thoughts?
Raavan
was
the
most
challenging
experience
of
my
life,
physically
and
emotionally.
It
sapped
me
in
every
way.
I
was
really
anxious
about
Raavan.
Mani,
Aishwarya
and
I
had
to
go
beyond
Guru,
which
is
one
of
my
favourite
films.
I
knew
Raavan
could
do
it.
I’m
very
proud
of
the
film.
I
know
everyone
has
given
sweat
and
blood
to
it.
It
was
a
lot
of
hard
work.
