AISHWARYA Rai is back on the big screen today after a long hiatus.

She will soon be seen in Jazbaa, playing the role of a prominent criminal lawyer, Anuradha, whose daughter, Sanaya, has been held hostage.

The suspense thriller directed by Sanjay Gupta is a tale of an entangled conspiracy that depicts a strong and fearless mother whose only glimmer of hope for her daughter’s freedom is to successfully defend a criminal on trial. In that process, she is made to do things’s against her will.

Anuradha’s (Aishwarya Rai) only ally is a suspended cop, Yohan, played by the unconventional actor Irfan Khan, of Life of Pi and Jurassic Park fame, who is known to provide depth to all his roles in Bollywood and Hollywood.

Aishwarya, who is married to Abhishek Bachchan, had taken a break from movies after her daughter, Aaradhya, was born in 2011.

She told the Hindustan Times: “Actually, having become a mother was perfect for a script like this because there is a lot of truth to the nuancing you can bring in,” the actor said.

"In terms of any dramatic moment, you can bring in a degree of truth to the sense of drama without necessarily being overt, and yet be there with all heart, every pulse, every cell of your body actually committed to that moment.

“Experience does bring in a lot of honesty here.

"That’s what made me bring a lot of integrity and truth also to the way I’ve essayed Anuradha,” she added.

The film will also feature Shabana Azmi and Jackie Shroff in pivotal roles.

The tracks from the film have already caused a stir, with Bandeeya showing Aishwarya looking like a gothic diva.

Jazbaa is out today across the UK.