[backcolor=rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5)]Aishwarya’s role in Raavan pushed her to the edge, both physically and emotionally. She played Ragini in Mani Ratnam’s modern retelling of the Ramayana, a performance that required trekking through dense forests and filming under harsh outdoor conditions. She later called it the most challenging role of her career and described the shoot as an “adventure experience.” Also, she filmed the Hindi and Tamil versions simultaneously, switching between languages and emotions constantly. Ratnam had even envisioned her as Ragini years earlier while directing Guru (2007), making this collaboration feel inevitable.


[backcolor=rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.5)]Provoked tells the story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, a woman fighting back against domestic abuse. Aishwarya captures fear, rage, and courage with honesty. Released in 2006, the film brought her international attention. Co-starring Naveen Andrews, she reportedly spent time with survivors to understand the physical and emotional toll of the story.

Shabd (2005)
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Shabd is a psychological drama where Aishwarya portrays Antara, a woman caught between love and obsession. The film focuses on character introspection rather than spectacle. The role reportedly pushed her to explore subtle expressions and internalized tension for extended scenes.