“Jodhaa Akbar was beautiful cinema”, says actor-singer Ila Arun. The actor, who played the role of emperor Akbar’s godmother, Maham Anga, says, “Movies like these give perspective to our culture. After Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Jodhaa Akbar was a historical fiction made in a beautiful way. There was a lot of research that shaped the film.”

Ask her if she has any regrets about the film and she tells us about Maham Anga’s death scene getting edited. Calling it “unfortunate”, she says, “It almost killed her when Akbar stopped talking to her. They reconcile before her death. Maham Anga says she was wrong and had misunderstood Jodhaa. Bahut hi khoobsurat scene tha.”

Happy with the role she essayed, she recalls asking director Ashutosh Gowariker, years later, why he has chosen her. Sharing the reason, she says, “He said it was the eyes. They said everything. My role was not one-dimensional character. She loved Akbar a lot and was protecting the dynasty. When Akbar married a Hindu princess, it made her apprehensive.”

Talking about shooting with actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan, Arun says, “They were extremely professional. As huge stars, they had no tantrums. When I saw Aishwarya in her outfit, even I felt that Jodhaa unke jaise hi hoti. Koi aur ho nahin sakti.”