AISHWARYA RAI is one of Bollywood’s pre-eminent leading ladies. This talented beauty thurst upon the world stage when her striking beauty, poise and commanding intelligence won her the Miss World crown in 1994.
India’s top Bollywood directors were soon lining up to work with Ash.
Entry into Bollywood
Her film debut in Mani Rathnam’s IRUVAR (1997) received critical acclaim and her performance in Rahul Rawail’s …AUR PAAR HO GAYA (1997) garnered her the Best Female Debutante Award.
Journey Further
In 2000, she was awarded Best Actress by FilmFare for her work in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM, and in that same year, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her special appearance in Aditya Chopra’s MOHABBATEIN.
In 2001, Ash was nominated for FilmFare’s Best Actress Award for Satish Kaushik’s HAMARA DIL AAPKE PAAS HAI.
Ash’s star continued to rise in 2002 working again with Sajay Leela Bhansali in DEVDAS. DEVDAS was the most ambitious and most successful film in Bollywood history. It became the first Bollywood picture to ever receive a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival and broke box-office records in India and the United States.
2003 brought even more exciting opportunities. Ash became the first Indian actor to be a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. Ash is also the latest member of the elite L’Oreal Dream Team, joining beauties Catherine Deneuve & Andie MacDowell as their international ambassador.
Magazine Covers Ash graced
She graced the covers of India Today and the prestigious Time Magazine. Time has also listed her on their list of the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World Today’. She has graced numerous covers in numerous countries worldwide including the USA, UK, China, Russia, Israel, United Emirates, Germany, Italy, Spain and France. Ash was also listed on Rolling Stone Magazine’s annual ‘Hot List’, Hello Magazine’s ‘Most Attractive Women in the World’, Stuff Magazine, FHM magazine, V-Life from Variety Magazine, GQ Magazine, New York Times Magazine, Harper’s & Queen and countless others.
International Projects
2004 saw Aishwarya take on the leading role in her first English language film in BRIDE & PREJUDICE for Gurinder Chadha.
Aishwarya’s other film credits include Manit Ratnam’s GURU; THE MISTRESS OF SPICES for director Paul Berges, Jag Mundhra’s PROVOKED, J.P. Dutta’s UMRAO JAAN and Sanjay Gadhvi’s DHOOM 2.
Aishwarya’s career continues to grow even stronger post-marriage so much so that there is lot more to reveal. Check it out in the next.