Silence of the lamb

Why did Aishwarya Rai choose to suffer in silence? Surely she should have spoken up and shunned Salman’s advances silence of the lamb
I AM a little confused by Aishwarya Rai. The signals she’s sending out are such. Victim or Vamp?
This week, she’s playing victim, even as she vamps it up on screen in an “item number� for Shakti. Frankly, I don’t like to see her as either victim or vamp.She’s far too smart for that. And that’s the real problem.
How does one ‘read’ Ash? By the script provided by her? Or through her actions? Ever since I first saw her (several moons and beauty titles ago), I felt, here was a young, bright, motivated and ambitious person who’s likely to succeed big time. Not because she is beautiful. And not because she is talented.
Let’s face it, Bollywood is crammed with countless beautiful and talented girls. I was sure Aishwarya would succeed because she was different. Very different. Inside her head, I mean. These days she has taken to stating, “I am not a bimbo.� Why spell out the obvious? Of course she isn’t a bimbo. Which is why the confusion.
Perhaps, on the advice of family, well-wishers and lawyers, the actress has decided to speak up and clear the controversies surrounding the latest punch-up on the sets of Aziz Mirza’s film.
This time her (ex) boyfriend had obviously gone too far. In that his disruptive rowdy behaviour had cost this lady love, Aishwarya, the film. Perhaps that hurt her more than the swipes taken by Salman Khan.
For all this while, people used to wonder about Aishwarya’s silence. Why would someone as ‘empowered’ as the actress suffer the indignity of being at the receiving end of brutal attacks by a besotted but unstable paramour? Why?? Surely, she more than anyone else in a similar position could have — should have — spoken up. Exposed the looney. And shunned his advances. Instead, she chose to suffer in silence.
Today she claims it was to protect her dignity. Well, I think her dignity, or for that matter, any woman’s dignity, lies in tatters the day she mutely endures a physical assault.
Had Aishwarya thought a little less about her own dignity and more about the safety of other, far less privileged women stuck in similar relationships, she would have emerged as a true heroine. At least in my eyes. Khair.
The nightmare seems to be behind her. Ash is fortunate in that she has the absolute support of her family. Mother Brinda,whose pain was obvious to all during the ordeal her daughter was subjecting herself to in the name of love, must be a relieved woman now that Ash has gone public with the story. I understand the Rais had approached the police and asked for a restraining order against Salman.
The frightening aspect of this particular imbroglio is the long reach of the awful message that was being sent out by both of them — Ash, too. While Salman’s garbled quotes suggested that inflicting pain was an integral part of true passion, Ash’s silence gave the impression that she was in agreement with this absurd, nasty take on love.
A lot of young, impressionable minds might’ve greedily gobbled up the bilge and even attempted to put it into practice in their own relationships. Think of it.
No pain, no gain, runs a popular dime-store adage. Unfortunately, Salman took that seriously. And worse, Aishwarya became an unwitting party to the ghastly pattern. She ought to have summoned the cops a long time ago.
Even today, her statements sound slightly unconvincing and frankly disappointing. She claims she called it quits with her boyfriend because he was cheating on her. Not because she was revolted by his violence and wished to expose him.
Had she chosen the latter route, thousands of unfortunate women stuck in similar situations would’ve applauded her. Aishwarya, more than anyone else, has responsibility, you see. She has been voted a role model for the youth of our country.
It’s her call now — she can either rise up and earn those laurels. Or... abrogate her iconic status and join the Bimbo Brigade. Officially, this time.