Mumbai: Aishwarya Rai's crossover film Provoked is set for a world wide release this Friday.

"This my first in terms of such an experience as an actor. I have played characters from books, fictional characters, done regular scripts. But this was the first time that I was actually going to be essaying a true-life person, who is going to be amongst our first audience," says Aishwarya.

And playing a deglamourised battered wife in Provoked certainly did seem to bring out the actor in the actress.

The film is inspired by the real life trial of Kiranjit Ahluwalia - an Indian origin wife who killed her abusive husband of 10 years and won her freedom after serving a three-year prison sentence.

And that incident changed the British law and it's attitude towards battered wives forever. While Aishwarya made sure that she did not end up doing injustice to Kiranjit’s character, Kiranjit too seems to be satisfied with the film's portrayal of her trauma.

"It was very a huge responsibility, one that I was extremely aware of. And I reminded myself of it all through the making of the film," Aishwarya says.

And Kiranjit adds, "Aishwarya has done a good job in the film. And I was very impressed."

Provoked also features acclaimed actors like Nandita Das, Naveen Andrews, Robbie Coltrane and Miranda Richardson in a crucial role.

The film was well received by international media at the sidelines of the Cannes film festival last year, and some initial curiosity can be expected in England too.

"The moment the cameras stopped rolling there was thunderous applause," says filmmaker, Jagmohan Mundhra. Aishwarya Rai adds, "I think they reacted in a more personal way and not as members of the media."

With Provoked, Aishwarya had hoped that her international acting career would finally take off. But with marriage on the cards, nobody knows if the actress will continue to seriously pursue her Hollywood dreams.