By Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, Jan 28 (IANS) When Aishwarya Rai got engaged to Abhishek Bachchan early this month there was widespread speculation about her future in filmdom. While her would-be in-laws say they have no problems with her continuing in films, some producers fear she may quit after marriage just like Jaya Bachchan did.

Jaya, after marrying Amitabh Bachchan, had quit films at the peak of her career to become a homemaker.

"Will Aishwarya continue to work after marriage? Didn't Jaya Bachchan give it all up at the peak of her career to be Mrs. Amitabh Bachchan?" one producer on the verge of signing her for a big action thriller seemed to express the entire industry's anxieties.

However, all speculation regarding Aishwarya's future in the movies can be laid to rest. The Bachchans have no intentions of stopping her from working.

"There's absolutely no talk of Aishwarya giving up her career. After 'Guru' she has entered a new performing peak. This is the time when she needs to build on her actor's image. There's absolutely no hint of a closure to her career after marriage, whenever that happens," a source close to the family told IANS.

In fact, 2007 is one of Aishwarya's busiest years in years.

"Apart from two international projects, 'The Last Legion' and 'Provoked', which are ready for release she's shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker's 'Jodha-Akbar'. Right after that she goes into Ram Gopal Varma's 'Sarkar 2', followed by a film for Karan Johar's production house. Both feature Abhishek opposite her. It would make a lot of practical sense for Aishwarya to do her films with Abhishek."

That doesn't mean she'd keep herself exclusively associated with Abhishek professionally.

"In fact, she is about to ink another project for producer Gaurang Doshi to be directed by Shriram Raghavan which stars John Abraham. All these will keep her busy till at least the middle of 2008," added the source.

The marriage date, which will be worked out only after Jaya and Abhishek return from the shooting of Goldie Behl's "Drona", will in no way impede Aishwarya's career plans.

"But she is completely one with whatever Abhishek's parents decide. She's leaving all her post-marriage decisions to them. In fact, she has been going by their wishes for some time now, from the time the two got serious about one another," the source explained to IANS.

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