'I never felt like an outsider': Aishwarya Rai Bachchan RECALLS early Tamil cinema days, Cannes 2026

Before becoming one of Indian cinema’s biggest stars, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made a memorable mark in Tamil cinema with films like ‘Iruvar’ and ‘Jeans’. Even as a newcomer, she quickly impressed audiences with her screen presence, beauty, and performance skills. A resurfaced interview of the actress is now going viral on social media, where she fondly looks back at her early days in the Tamil film industry. Aishwarya shared how warmly she was welcomed by the cast and crew during a time when she was still learning the language and understanding the industry. Her words have now brought back memories of her successful beginning in Kollywood.Speaking about her experience during 'Jeans' with The Indian Express, Aishwarya said the team made her feel completely comfortable from day one. “What was beautiful is I wasn’t made to feel alien. I wasn’t made to feel like a Bombay girl having come here at no point in time,” she said. The actress added that the love and support she received gave her the confidence to perform difficult scenes and long dialogue shots in Tamil. “At no point in time did I feel like a newcomer. I was constantly pepped up and given so much confidence,” she recalled. Her comments reflected the strong bond she shared with the team and how the environment helped her grow as an actress early in her career.Aishwarya also praised director S. Shankar and the entire team of ‘Jeans’ for supporting her transition after her debut film 'Iruvar.' She described the film as a major learning experience and said the role helped her understand herself better as an artist. “I have Shankar and the entire unit of Jeans to thank immensely for making me feel comfortable in Tamil,” she shared. Released in 1998, ‘Jeans’ became a huge commercial success and was also one of the most expensive Indian films made at the time. The movie later went on to become India’s official entry for the Academy Awards, further increasing Aishwarya’s popularity across the country.After many years away from Tamil cinema, Aishwarya Rai made a grand comeback with 'Ponniyin Selvan: I' and 'Ponniyin Selvan: II,' directed by Mani Ratnam. She played the powerful and mysterious Nandini, one of the most important characters in the story. Her performance received praise from both critics and fans, with many calling it one of the finest roles of her career. From her graceful screen presence to her intense emotional scenes, Aishwarya once again proved why she continues to remain one of the most admired actresses in Indian cinema.