Appa did not want us to be in the movie business. He had seen its dark side. He worried that we might want to become actors. Little did he know that my sister and I didn’t want to be among the ship’s crew, we wanted to captain it.
As the child of a living legend, people would often ask, ‘Why do you even try? You can put your feet up, enjoy the life your father has built for you and the comfort your husband provides, and let things come to you. Take care of the home, shop, bring up your kids and enjoy life.’
I wish!
Most people don’t understand that being a homemaker is a full-time vocation in itself. I chose to be a homemaker and then do a little extra. My dreams of becoming a lawyer, dancer, mother, film-maker, author and an advocate for women’s rights have all come to fruition in one way or another. I have been blessed but I need to keep moving.
They say god gives challenges only to those who can handle them. A hassle-free day-to-day life, a fully functioning home and happy children are achievements in themselves. But most women, either to challenge themselves or due to external challenges, have to do more. I have my own battles to fight, from trying to resist my appetite for sweets to trying to make my own mark in the world. And I must confess, temptation when it comes to food is the hardest to overcome!
I would like to do more for the cause of women and I have got the perfect platform with my role as a UN Women’s advocate. I would also like to do more for the industry that has nurtured me from birth. We are currently working on a three-part series on the unsung heroes of the industry. The first part deals with stunt men and women. Very rarely do our movies not feature stunts, yet the people who make them possible are ignored. They put their lives on the line, yet there is no recognition, no insurance coverage and very little compensation. The project started with a documentary, and went on with a petition to add stunt choreography as a category for the National awards. It is a surprising omission that must change.
The second part of the series deals with junior artistes. They enter the field with stars in their eyes, but are soon struggling for survival and it is only their passion for cinema that keeps them going. The third and last part will delve into the lives of background dancers. Song and dance have been such a staple of our movies, but these dancers are often the most underpaid in the industry. This trilogy is a tribute to these people who are not acknowledged, but are such an integral part of movie-making.
These are my plans. I hope I can look back and say things worked out right and I did the right thing by all those I set out to do it for, and with.
For the rest, there’s god and family.
Acknowledgments
To the men.
My grandfather, who pushed me to be passionate about language. Those lovely evenings he spent reading to me, the early morning newspaper headlines we discussed together, the lovely letters he sent later in life, they laid the foundation for this book.
Appa, words cannot do justice to the bond we share. Thank you for the great genes!
Dhanush, my friend and companion for life, whose encouragement made me truly spread my wings.
My two beautiful sons, who have taught me the true meaning of life. I hope constantly that I am worthy of their love and that they grow up to be strong men who respect the women in their lives.
My grandmother, for making me believe that I can achieve, my mother and sister for their love, and my friends for being my eternal support system.
This book couldn’t have happened without the people I am going to mention next. Aditi Ravindranath, for having faith in me and recognizing that there was a writer in me. Amritha Dinesh, for helping me put it together and move ahead, keeping the deadlines in mind. Mr Baradwaj Rangan, who instantly put me on to the right people. Karthika V.K. at HarperCollins India, who was extremely encouraging and helpful. I thank you all from the warmest part of my heart.
About the Book
Director, dancer, goodwill advocate for the United Nations—Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth Dhanush is so much more than the daughter of a legendary actor, or the wife of southern cinema’s biggest reigning star. Growing up in Bangalore and then Madras, in a household that resolutely kept out any hint of her father’s superstardom, she was a quiet, introverted child whose greatest pleasure was a visit to Marina Beach and an occasional meal out. It was not cinema but law that became a preoccupation when she started thinking about college and career—but fate, and her mother, had other plans for her.
Aishwaryaa writes with disarming honesty about life as Rajinikanth’s daughter, of falling in love and raising two boys with Dhanush, of fighting her own demons and finding satisfaction in a career of her choice. She reflects on the many roles a woman has to juggle at home and outside—in her case, under the watchful gaze of cameras.
Intensely personal, but also inspirational, Aishwaryaa’s memoir is an unusually frank insight into growing up in cinema-land. A playful meditation on the joys and difficulties of being a woman in this age, Standing on an Apple Box is as much a celebration of individual fulfilment as it is of family.
About the Author
AISHWARYAA R. DHANUSH is a film director and a start-up entrepreneur. She is the daughter of legendary actor Rajinikanth and is married to Dhanush, also one of India’s best-known actors. She is the mother of two boys. She lives in Chennai, India.
Aishwaryaa is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer (recognized by the state government for the same in 2009), a voracious reader and a passionate writer. In August 2016, she was appointed UN Women’s advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment in India. Standing on an Apple Box is her first book.
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First published in hardback in India in 2016 by
HarperCollins Publishers India
Copyright © Aishwaryaa R. Dhanush 2016
P-ISBN: 978-93-5264-175-8
Epub Edition © December 2016 ISBN: 978-93-5264-176-5
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Aishwaryaa R. Dhanush asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
The views and opinions expressed in this book are the author’s own and the facts are as reported by her, and the publishers are not in any way liable for the same.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Cover design: Sanchita Jain
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