Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and Shahrukh Khan at the premiere of Devdas in Mumbai

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Throwback to: July 12, 2002

Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit and Shahrukh Khan at the premiere of Devdas in Mumbai 
 

Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit-Nene at the grand premiere of Devdas: TBT to July 12, 2002

 

Exquiste Aishwarya Rai in Devdas

 

Exquiste Aishwarya Rai in Devdas

Aishwarya Rai in Devdas: The Neeta Lulla

 

The 2002 Hindi film Devdas (directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit) was released in India on 12 July 2002.

Aishwarya Rai's first appearance at Cannes

Aishwarya Rai, 29, at Cannes back in 2002. 

This baby blue sparkling salwaar kameez was such a rage. 
 

Purple reign of Aishwarya Rai in Devdas

Aishwarya Rai, 29, in Devdas (2002). The peak of her epic beauty? 

The last scenes shot for the film --movies in Bollywood are not made in chronological order!--in the exquisitely embroidered purple sari, Rai looked so stunning. In a film where she's weighed down by the costumes, she breezed through with this delicate look. 

 

Aishwarya Rai in Cannes (2002): The face that pioneered Bollywood in the French riviera

Aishwarya Rai in Cannes (2002): The face that pioneered Bollywood in the French riviera 
 

Simple and stunning: Aishwarya Rai in 23rd March 1931: Shaheed

 Simple and stunning: Aishwarya Rai in 23rd March 1931: Shaheed (2002)

Picture perfect Aishwarya Rai in Devdas (2002)

 

The dazzling excess of Devdas: Aishwarya Rai at her imperial best

The dazzling excess of Devdas: Aishwarya Rai at her imperial best 

Released on July 12, 2002, there was an unquestionable queen of Bollywood. Madhuri Dixit had passed the baton... 

 

Aishwarya Rai in Devdas: Classic Bengali Styling

Aishwarya Rai's portraits in Devdas to me are like Raja Ravi Verma's classic paintings; timeless. For eons, future generations will refer to her look, styling, wardrobe, makeup and her sharp painstakingly crafted aesthetics as the highest benchmark of the classic Indian beauty caught on film.  

In all its glorious excess, Rai walked like poetry in motion, a still portrait that magically came to life. Such extreme visual appeal meant that critics - whose job it is to criticise by pure definition - went after her for other reasons other than her finely honed craft. Under the stewardship of ace director Bhansali, Rai went from model to deification. 

Did she peak by age 29? One wonders... 

 

Aishwarya Rai in Devdas - the film that took her to Cannes where she was crowned Queen

Aishwarya Rai in Devdas - the film that took her to Cannes where she was crowned Queen of Cannes - unofficially! 

This heavily embellished black and gold embroidered sari was everything back in 2002. 

Aishwarya Rai with her mother Vrinda Rai back in 2002

Aishwarya Rai with her mother Vrinda Rai back in 2002
 

Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai at Cannes, 2002

 

Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai at Cannes, 2002. 

The press conference and media meet while promoting the film Devdas. 

Aishwarya wowed the press and paparazzi so much, she's been invited back a record 16 times in a row. 

Aishwarya Rai struts down the catwalk with designer Shahab Durazi

 

Indian designer Shahab Durazi accompanies Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai, in a sari by Durazi, after a show in Bombay, November 20, 2002. Durazi showcased a fusion of western and Indian garments, emphasising on evening wear. 

Aishwarya looking ... PERFECT. 

Aishwarya Rai in Shakti (2002) and Aishwarya Rai in Hum Panchi ek Daal ke (2003)

Aishwarya Rai in Shakti (2002) and Aishwarya Rai in Hum Panchi ek Daal ke (2003) - unreleased. 

Such similar styling, makeup, accessories... 

Devdas (2002)

At the zenith of her incredible beauty, in the history of Indian cinema, rarely has an actress been so beautifully projected as Aishwarya Rai has been in Devdas (2002).

Devdas (2002)

Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit in Devdas (2002).