Aishwarya is a super mom: Abhishek Bachchan

Mumbai, Dec 22: Abhishek Bachchan said his actress wife Aishwarya Rai is a "super mom" and expressed his desire to protect his daughter Aaradhya from the world of showbiz so as to offer her normal childhood.

"Her (Aishwarya's) professionalism and dedication is unquestionable. As a mother (of Aaradhya) she is superb..she is a super mom. As a co-star, I have always loved working with her. It is a pleasure," Abhishek told PTI.

Abhishek said he and Aishwarya wanted their daughter Aaradhya be guarded from the showbiz.

"As her parents, Aishwarya and I want our child to be happy and healthy. I was guarded from all this (media attention and showbiz world). The trade magazine and all was banned in my house. The first time I read a film magazine was when I was 18," the actor said.

Abhishek appealed to media to show restrain in photographing star kids.

"This is one department (of children) where I would want the media to show restrain and responsibility. In our time social media was not there. I appeal to the media to show restrain..Don't do this to them..let children grow up the way they want to. We want to let her (Aaradhya) grow as a normal kid," the actor said.

Praising his wife for her professionalism and dedication to work, Abhishek said, "Aishwarya always knew what is the right film for her and has a knack to pick a right film that suits her. I love her as an actor. I am a big fan of her and she should be given the liberty to choose the films she wants to do".

The buzz is that the real life couple will be seen in adman Prahlad Kakkar's film, probably next year.

"What happens in selection process is (that) you have certain ideas and suggestions and things get worked out, so it is time consuming. It takes time to develop a script to making a film...It doesn't happen overnight," Abhishek said.

Abhishek said Kakkar had met them with a script. "He has a script which he is keen on. We haven't heard it completely yet. If we like it then we will do it," the actor informed.

Virat Kohli reminded me of Sachin Tendulkar of 1996 tour: Allan Donald

Johannesburg: Former South African pace legend and current bowling coach Allan Donald today compared Virat Kohli's century with Sachin Tendulkar, who had similarly counter-attacked the Proteas attack during a Test match in Cape Town back in 1996.

"The one word that comes to my mind is responsibility," he said, talking about the India's new No 4.

"He (Kohli) showed great discipline and responsibility. It reminded me of Sachin Tendulkar when they came here in 1996. I was the first one to say back in 1996 that India didn't have much bottle. One person jumped out and played for the situation, played for his team, and that was Tendulkar. That's what came to my mind when I saw Kohli batting," Donald told mediapersons here today.

Donald explained that Kohli's ability to punish the loose balls when required.

"The way Kohli left the ball and when we were slightly off the line he punished the ball. He paced his innings very, very well. He put up his hand today and showed real fight and he was tight and didn't give much away until the end."

The coach did say that he wasn't very happy with performance of his bowlers although he claims that South Africa is very much in control.

"At the same time, we were slightly wide and short, probably the widest I have seen outside the off-stump, because the ball was swinging. But the game never really drifted away from us. They are five down, and I will take it," he added.

Donald did agree that Indian batsmen showed a lot of patience early in their innings.

"It's a mixture of things, having India in trouble early on. Then, it became sloppy in patches as the day went on. India showed a lot of patience, and left the ball really well today. They also played Imran Tahir very well.

"They have learnt from past matches here, and also we needed to find the right areas with the ball. We could have done it better and it was a tough Test match cricket today," he said.

Kohli had earlier outlined that India will be looking to get 400 runs on the board, and if not they will be really pleased with 350-360 as well. Either way, if that happens, it will put a lot of pressure on the hosts, who have to bat last on this pitch.

"I thought we stuck to our guns really well, and tomorrow we have to come and make a big play. We need to keep our eyes on the pitch, there are a few cracks. The second new ball has come at the right time, and tomorrow we have to come swinging, and there’s no doubt about it," Donald signed off.