Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s mother-in-law may not have been overt about her feelings for her bahu so far. But looks like mum-in-law was secretly hoping for Aishwarya win the IIFA best actress award for her performance in ‘Jodha Akhbar’. And from what reports claim, it was Jaya Bachchan’s words in Ashutosh’s voice.

Jaya Bachchan not just stands by director Ashutosh Gowariker for his onstage comments on who deserved the best actor award, but it was her idea that he bring it up on the stage. The otherwise quite first lady of the Bachchan family said, “First of all it is being presumed that Ashutosh unnecessarily mentioned my name regarding Aishwarya’s omission from the awards. The fact is I suggested he bring up the question on stage at IIFA. We were discussing why Aishwarya has not been given any award for ‘Jodhaa-Akbar’ and I suggested Ashutosh bringing up the matter. So when he mentioned my name he wasn’t doing anything wrong. The entire principal cast and crew of Jodhaa-Akbar have been rightly nominated for the popular awards and have won also. I find it very strange that Aishwarya who lived her part and looked every inch the royal Rajasthani queen in her body language and overall performance was ignored. I don’t have any objection to Priyanka winning the award at IIFA. But I wonder why Aishwarya’s fine performance was ignored.”

Well, we wonder what Priyanka Chopra and Madhur Bhandarkar have to say now. And will this turn into another Bachchan controversy?

Listen to ‘Jodhaa Akbar ‘ songs on Raaga.com