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VM: In Bollywood there is no on-screen kissing - was there a lot of pressure from the studio to have some physical contact and break with this tradition for the Western audience?
Gurinder Chadha: No, there was no pressure to go down that route, there are lots of traditions that are different in Bollywood and we tried to keep as many as possible. The song and dance routines give this film its vitality. There are lots of great Bollywood traditions that Western cinema can adopt.
Aishwarya Rai: It is important to remember as well that not there are now some Bollywood movies that have kissing and some very passionate scenes, also if you trace back to the early tradition of Bollywood they had some very deep and heavy kisses. Somewhere down the road it changed and it has become the manner of Indian movies.
VM: Few people realise that on many levels the Indian film industry is actually bigger than its American counterpart - do you think this movie will pave the way for more Bollywood actresses to find an international audience?
Gurinder Chadha: Oh undoubtedly, I think it is already happening. Tanali, who plays Nitin's wife in the film, is working on an Italian film at the moment. There are many Bollywood actresses who will step into the mainstream. I hope the movie will be a launch pad and it will not just be one-way traffic.
Aishwarya Rai: I think it will help to bring changes. I consider myself really, really lucky to get the opportunities to be in these types of movies and branch out to do whatever I want. As an actor it's great to have more challenges. I was so excited to work in an English movie and I know other Bollywood stars will be too. It is also the opportunity to work with actors from different parts of the world, you discover a lot about your art.
VM: Aishwarya - there are many rumours about upcoming Hollywood roles, including one that you're going to be the next Bond girl... how do you feel about the speculation? Is there any truth to it?
Aishwarya Rai: There have been rumours on the Internet about me being the next Bond girl for many years, I keep denying it but they do not seem to put that on the Net, just the speculation. Anything is possible in the future, I am of course looking at my options and when the time comes to reveal my next projects then I will do that. Rumours circulating on the Net do not necessarily mean anything.
VM: Gurinder, one last question for you - it seems all your films begin with the letter B... is this just a strange coincidence?!
Gurinder Chadha: Oh dear, I've been caught out! It was never meant to be that way but it is true that the only film I ever did that did not follow that pattern - What's Cooking? - was not a commercial success. I'm stuck - if I keep doing it people will think I'm mad, if I break with the B tradition then my career might be over!