Aishwarya Rai is one of Bollywood's pre-eminent leading ladies. This Indian darling burst upon the world stage when her striking beauty, poise and commanding intelligence won her the Miss World crown in 1994. This former architecture major soon became one of India's most famous models landing a prestigious Pepsi campaign and appearing in Vogue Magazine. India's top Bollywood directors were soon lining up to work with Ash. 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. In 2000 she was awarded Best Actress by FilmFare and Zee Cine for her work in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", 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".
devdas photosAsh's star continued to rise in 2002 working again with Sajay Leela Bhansali in 'Devdas'. 'Devdas' is the most ambitious and most successful film in Bollywood history. It became the first Bollywood picture to ever receive a special screening at this year's Cannes Film Festival and broke box-office records in India and the United States. Daily Variety's (06/12/02) Derek Elley describes 'Devdas' as "some of the most sumptuous production values in Bollywood history…" Elley describes Ash as "almost Audrey Hepburn-like", Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann says "I loved her in Devdas" and Julia Roberts calls her "the world's most beautiful woman".
aishwarya_rai_bollywoodzone2003 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. She graced the covers of India Today and the prestigious TIME Magazine. Time Magazine has also listed her on their list of the “100 Most Influential People in the World Today”. She has graced numerous covers worldwide including USA, UK, CHINA, RUSSIA, ISRAEL, UNITED EMERITES, 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.
2004 saw Aishwarya take on the leading role in her first English language film for Gurinder Chadha in “Bride & Prejudice”. She also became the first Indian female to be immortalized in wax at the world famous Madame Tussaud’s wax museum in London.
2005 started with appearances on “60 Minutes”, “David Letterman Show” and the most watched television program in the world the “Oprah Winfrey Show”; Aishwarya’s career continues to grow even stronger - she will soon be seen in Mistress of Spices for director Paul Berges, Jag Mundhra’s Provoked, Sanjay Gadhvi’s Dhoom 2 and legendary film producer Dino De Laurentiis’s Last Legion opposite Colin Firth and Sir Ben Kingsley. The Queen of Bollywood is already becoming the talk of tinseltown and is currently in negotiations on two major motion pictures.
Filmography 1997 : Iruvar by Mani Ratnam (in Tamil) (Telugu title: Iddaru)
1997 : Aur Pyar Ho Gaya by Rahul Rawail
1998 : Jeans by S. Shankar (in Tamil)
1999 : Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam by Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Filmfare Best Actress Award)
1999 : Aa Ab Laut Chalein by Rishi Kapoor
1999 : Taal by Subhash Ghai
2000 : Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai by Satish Kaushik
2000 : Mohabbatein by Aditya Chopra (cameo)
2000 : Dhai Akshar Prem Ke by Raj Kanwa
2000 : Josh by Mansoor Khan
2000 : Kandukondain Kandukondain by Rajiv Menon (in Tamil)
2000 : Sanam Tere Hain Hum by Jayant Paranji (special appearance)
2001 : Albela by Deepak Sareen
2002 : Devdas by Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Filmfare Best Actress Award)
2002 : Hum Kisise Kum Nahin by David Dhawan
2002 : Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam by K.S. Adiyaman (special appearance)
2002 : 23rd March 1931 : Shaheed by Guddu Dhanoa
2002 : Shakti (movie) by Krishna Vamshi (special appearance)
2003 : Kuch Na Kaho by Rohan Sippy
2002 : Nee Kidappen Njan Adippen: The Power by Krishna Vamshi
2003 : Dil Ka Rishta by Naresh Malhotra
2003 : Chokher Bali by Rituparno Ghosh (in Bengali)
2003 : Khakee by Rajkumar Santoshi
2004 : Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na by Samir Karnik
2004 : Bride and Prejudice by Gurinder Chadha (in English)
2004 : Raincoat by Rituparno Ghosh
2005 : Shabd by Leena Yadav
2005 : Bunty Aur Babli by Shaad Ali (special appearance)
2005 : The Heart of India by Ganapathy Bharat (in English)
2005 : Mistress of Spices by Paul Mayeda Berges (in English)
2006 : Provoked by Jagmohan Mundhra (in English) (filming)
2006 : Dhoom 2 by Sanjay Gadhvi (filming)
2006 : Umrao Jaan by J.P. Dutta (filming)
2006 : Singularity by Roland Joffé (in English)
2006 : Akbar-Jodha by Ashutosh Gowariker (pre-production)
2006 : The Last Legion by Doug Lefler (in English)
2006: "Chaos" by Coline Serreau (in English)
2006 : Indie Pop by Miko Reyes (pre-production)
2006 : Guru by Mani Ratnam (announced)
