Aishwarya Rai in Devdas

 Aishwarya Rai in Devdas 

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

. 

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.

Madhuri Dixit-Nene in Devdas (2002)

Madhuri Dixit-Nene, 35, in Devdas (2002)
 

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 and Madhuri Dixit on the sets of Devdas

Creating magic, history, with the most popular, complex, artistic, gorgeously and intricately choreographed dance number in the history of Indian cinema.... 

Oh Saroj Khan. What a legacy.  

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. 

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 in Devdas

Aishwarya Rai in Devdas

Literally in every single frame, the perfection of Aishwarya Rai in Devdas.

Aishwarya Rai on the film set of... Devdas

That even Aishwarya Rai's outtakes are such perfection is beyond amazing...

Perfection: Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai in Devdas. Perfection on screen.

Aishwarya Rai in Devdas

In the history of Indian cinema, there might never be a visual as strong as the one of Aishwarya Rai in Devdas. In sari-clad, bejeweled, (over) decked out Rai is just breathtakingly beautiful and held her own in a film studded with movie stars of greater volume. Critics in India go after Rai hammer and tongs, for no reason. She did a splendid job. That finale will haunt viewers in ethereal eternity.

Devdas

Not everyone can stand up to Madhuri Dixit in a film - many actresses have been completely overshadowed. Aishwarya Rai sure as hell held her own in this dramatic scene in Devdas. Both were faultless. To Rai's regal demeanor, Dixit provided the perfect foil of humility and pride.

Devdas - though walloped by critics at the time - is a glorious OTT ode to ol' school glamor of vintage Bollywood - set with modern stars. Its gorgeous viewing - loud - but beautiful...

Devdas: Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai in Devdas. Perfection on screen.