Abhishek Bachchan has reacted to a fan's comment who asked the actor to let his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, “sign more movies”. It all started when Abhishek tweeted his review of Ponniyin Selvan 2. The actor said, “#PS2 is simply Fantastic!!! At a loss for words right now. So overwhelmed. Well done to the entire team #ManiRatnam @chiyaan, @trishtrashers, @actor_jayamravi, @Karthi_Offl and the rest of the cast and crew. And so, so proud of the Mrs. Her best by far. #AishwaryaRaiBachchan.” To this, the user replied, “As you should! Now let her sign more movies and you take care of Aaradhya.” Abhishek didn't miss the comment. He tweeted, “Let her sign??? Sir, she certainly doesn't need my permission to do anything. Especially something she loves.” In PS 2, Aishwarya plays the role of Nandini, Queen of Pazhuvoor.
Ponniyin Selvan 2, the Mani Ratnam magnum opus, was released on April 28. Apart from Aishwarya, the film stars Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Trisha Krishnan and Sobhita Dhulipala in crucial roles.
Mani Ratnam released the first part - Ponniyin Selvan 1 - in September last year. The film received immense love and appreciation from fans and critics alike. The film is based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's novel of the same name. In the first part, the focus was on Chola prince Arunmozhi Varman's (played by Jayam Ravi) early life.
In his review for NDTV, Saibal Chatterjee wrote, “PS-2, certainly to a significantly greater extent than the first part, is remarkably sinewy and compact whole despite its nearly three-hour runtime. The film is a treat for the eyes. Cinematographer Ravi Varman composes frames that capture the expanse of the locations even as they drill into the granular details of the exquisite images that the camera conjures up. The appeal is neither just sensory or superficial. PS-2 has enough in its folds to touch the mind and the heart.”
For Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, he said, “PS-2 reveals the story of the grey-haired Mandakini (Aishwarya in a double role), who the audience had seen briefly in the final moments of PS-1. It delves into the reason for the resemblance that she bears to Nandini and the nature of her relationship with Veerapandiyan, whose dastardly beheading drove a wedge between the Cholas and the Pandyans.”