Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Jan 31: Actor Aishwarya Rajesh, known today for her powerful screen presence and acclaimed performances, has spoken about the difficult and disturbing experiences she faced during the early days of her career, highlighting the challenges encountered by many young women entering the film industry.

Speaking on filmmaker Nikhil Vijayendra Simha’s podcast, Aishwarya recalled an unsettling incident involving a photographer during a shoot when she was very young. She said she had gone for the assignment accompanied by her brother, but the situation soon turned uncomfortable.

“I was very young. I had gone with my brother. The photographer asked him to sit outside, took me inside, gave me lingerie to wear, and said, ‘I want to see your body,’” she said.

The actor admitted that she was momentarily confused and almost complied before her instincts warned her that something was wrong. She said she managed to escape the situation by telling the photographer that she needed her brother’s permission. Aishwarya added that she never shared the incident with her brother and reflected on how many aspiring actresses might have gone through similar experiences in silence.

She also spoke about another painful episode from her early career, recalling how a director publicly humiliated her on a film set for arriving a few minutes late. According to her, while being reprimanded was not the issue, the manner in which it was done deeply affected her.

“He scolded me in front of junior artists and started comparing me with other actresses. Even if I made a mistake, one should not scold publicly,” she said.

Despite these early setbacks, Aishwarya Rajesh went on to carve out a respected space for herself in the industry with strong performances in films such as Attakathi, Vada Chennai and Kanaa. She has earned praise for choosing meaningful and performance-driven roles.

She was last seen in the Tamil film Theeyavar Kulaigal Nadunga alongside Arjun and in the 2025 hit Sankranthiki Vasthunam. She is currently working on Oh..! Sukumari, directed by Bharat Darshan, starring opposite Thiruveer. Aishwarya has also been honoured with the Best Actress (Special Prize) for her performances in Kanaa and Vada Chennai.