While Aishwarya Rai has been in the news for an unfortunate bicycle accident on the sets of Guru, it’s a lesser-known fact that she had a taste of frozen water, too, on the sets of Umrao Jaan.

A particular scene required Rai to shoot in the cold waters of Rajasthan. The actress did so without making any fuss.

According to an insider from the unit, “There’s this water sequence with Ash. The scene was shot in the month of January at Jaipur. It was freezing cold and to everybody’s surprise, Ash agreed to swim in a pool, in such extreme weather conditions.�

To do or not to

We hear that Rai’s co-stars were divided about her going dip-dip-dip in the chilled water. A source close to the actress informs, “Many of her co-stars had advised her to say no. But Ash refused to be discouraged by any argument. She bravely went ahead with the swim in the freezing water scene. Ash knew that JP saab always has a full-proof plan and she didn’t want to let him down.�

Frostbite

We hear that the takes in the water took a toll on Rai’s health and by the time the shot was okayed, the actress was on the verge of collapsing.

“Yes Ash actually had to brave the chill. When she emerged from the water, she looked pale and was shivering badly. We were really scared. JP Saab and Bindiya were extremely concerned until Ash got back to normal.�

Under control

However, a member from the Dutta camp refused to acknowledge this, “The sequence was filmed in an indoor pool of a five-star hotel where the water temperature was under control. The shot was complete in about five minutes. Mr Dutta has been at the location all the time working his actors through it. He always takes good care of his actors. Ash couldn’t have been in such bad shape.�

Well done, Ash!

The film, which is an adaptation of Ruswa’s Umrao Jaan, is nearing completion and an impressed Dutta has been heard saying, “Ash has surpassed the levels that I had set for her. My brief to her was that she should think of herself as Ameeran, the girl child with tears in her eyes and smile on her face and not as the glamorous Umrao Jaan.�