Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and director Mani Ratnam have worked together on such films as Iruvar, Guru, Raavan, and PS I and II. In a recent interview, Suhasini Maniratnam, the director's wife, talked extensively about Aishwarya and called her "a genuine person" who cares about those around her. Her comparison to Florence Nightingale has also been made.
Suhasini Maniratnam, the wife of filmmaker Mani Ratnam, discussed Aishwarya's character attributes in a recent interview. "I feel really thrilled whenever I see Aishwarya. Although many people just view her for her beauty, I know her personally and believe she is a real person. She has attributes that the general public might not always notice. For instance, she'll be the first to come and take care of you if you are sick. She has a caring demeanor, and she will provide recommendations on what to eat. Aishwarya Rai is like Florence Nightingale,” she added.
The actor had previously received praise from Maniratnam earlier this year when she said, "Filmmakers are extremely, very selfish people, completely callous and greedy. They are just concerned with the movie. No matter how much I adore her (Aishwarya), I will only ask her if I think she is the proper fit for the part. Every time I've asked her, she has been kind enough to say yes because I thought she was perfect for the position. She is therefore more than simply a fortunate charm for me; her talent and charisma made her the ideal choice to play this part.”