Aishwarya Rai, the epitome of grace and wit, once found herself in a delightful exchange with David Letterman when the latter posed a rather stereotypical question about Indian living arrangements. Rai’s response was not just a befitting reply but also a charming insight into breaking cultural stereotypes. In this article, we revisit that memorable moment when Aishwarya Rai gracefully challenged assumptions, proving that a quick-witted retort can be as elegant as her on-screen presence. Let’s relive this candid conversation that transcended borders and stereotypes.
Aishwarya Rai’s Mic-Drop Moment
During the publicity tour for Gurinder Chadha’s 2004 film “Bride and Prejudice,” one standout moment has gained more popularity than the film itself. Aishwarya Rai, unaware of the mild condescension and awkward curiosity she would encounter, dropped by David Letterman’s talk show to promote the movie.
Throughout the interview, Aishwarya maintained patience while Letterman demonstrated basic ignorance about her, her country, and the entertainment industry. However, when Letterman inquired about whether she still resides with her parents and if this is a common practice in India, Aishwarya delivered a response for the ages. She asserted, “Living with your parents is perfectly acceptable. In India, we don’t need to schedule appointments with our parents just to have dinner.” It was a mic-drop moment.
David Letterman really tried to make fun of Aishwarya Rai for living with her parents… pic.twitter.com/h5FY9P1bfH
— Sameera Khan (@SameeraKhan) March 24, 2021
Abhishek Bachchan’s Proud Stand
Letterman found himself speechless, and the crowd took a moment to absorb her remark before applauding quietly. Aishwarya, as Letterman acknowledged even then, was an internationally recognized star. This was before her marriage to Abhishek Bachchan, who is also familiar with standing up against trolls.
On a particular occasion, when a Twitter user made a disparaging comment about him living with his parents, Abhishek retorted, “Yes! And it’s the proudest moment for me to be able to be there for them, as they have for me. Try it sometime, you might feel better about yourself.”
Yes! And it’s the proudest moment for me to be able to be there for them, as they have for me. Try it sometime, you might feel better about yourself.
— Abhishek 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧 (@juniorbachchan) April 17, 2018