At Home In The World

No complaints, just genuine gratitude—is this what a lifetime of travel leads to? Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the cover star for Condé Nast Traveller’s 50th Issue (who also happened to be on our first ever cover) is all class.

Tell us about your time here in Washington, DC I’ve been here during my World Tour performances but never stayed on. This is the first time that I have stayed for a couple of days. I have family here, and they say the best time to visit is in April, for the cherry blossoms. I can imagine how beautiful it would look—but now that I’ve seen the gorgeous waterfront and the monuments—I can only imagine how stunning it would be in full bloom. Washington, DC is this unique mix of a buzzing urban city with an overwhelming sense of history and power. It reminds me of our own capital, New Delhi.

So how have you spent your time in DC?

Aside from catching up with my cousins, I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to show [my seven-year-old daughter] Aaradhya the city, to make her aware of where we are and why it’s special. We visited the monuments [on the Mall] and the White House, despite them being touristy. I have always done that sort of thing, just ventured out and snuck into places, off my schedule and I still do that, even as a mother.

Is it easier for you to do that when you are outside of the country?

Honestly, the world is really small. It’s not about whether you’re in India or abroad, or about whether people recognise you or not, or how big or small the crowds are. Of course, there are situations when you have to be more aware of the environment, but the ease is in your mind and your own sense of self.

Now that I have a daughter, I am a lot more cautious and responsible and I have to always keep an eye out. I can’t just throw caution to the wind. But at the same time, it’s important to keep it real—not just for myself, but for Aaradhya, too.

So tell us what your travel schedules are like as a family.