Aishwarya Rai in Dil ka Rishta

 

Aishwarya Rai in Dil ka Rishta. There's an entire sub genre of film where Aishwarya Rai looks incredible in incredibly awful movies... Its... a long list.

Generally hate screengrabs but oh wow, Ash looks so gorgeous in this orange sari look. 

Aishwarya Rai in Dil ka Rishta (2003)

Aishwarya Rai in Dil ka Rishta (2003). Shot in 2002, Ash's home production, she looks so good. 

Rakhee and Aishwarya Rai

 

Raakhee Gulzar's last Hindi film was Dil Ka Rishta (2003), where she played Aishwarya Rai's mother (Tia's mom). Her absolute last film before a long hiatus from regular acting was the Bengali movie Shubho Mahurat (also 2003), for which she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. She largely stepped away from films after 2003 (with only sporadic Bengali projects much later, like Nirban in 2019 and Aamar Boss in 2025).

What most of new gen doesn't recognise or understand, Raakhee was considered one of the great beauties of Indian cinema - who was also a phenomenal actress. Shoort, moon-faced, and with that signature husk and dialogue delivery, Raakhee - now age 78 - has won several major awards over her career, with the most consistently cited major wins being her two National Film Awards, three Filmfare Awards. She finally was awarded the Padma Shri (India's fourth-highest civilian honour) in 2003 for contribution in the field of Arts. 

Ash had mentioned that she wanted to work with Raakhee as her mother said there was a resemblance between the two - we didn't see it back then, but thanks to Instagram and other social media handles, you can find, rare, vintage postcards of Raakhee from the early days and she was indeed a striking Bengali beauty. 

Aishwarya Rai in Dil ka Rishta

Dil Ka Rishta, a Hindi film, musical-romantic-drama [ah Bollywood, why be one genre when you can be three?!], led by Aishwarya Rai, Arjun Rampal, and Priyanshu Chatterjee was released on January 17, 2003. With hit music by Nadeem Shravan and Rai looking ever-so-dreamy, there was tremendous buzz around the film. 

Aishwarya Rai was 29 years old during the film's release, principal involvement and production. The movie was co-produced by the Rai family and famously written by Rai's mother Vrinda. The film had a budget of around ₹8.25 crore, was shot extensively in South Africa and Mumbai, and collected approximately ₹14.6 crore worldwide. Initially written off as a flop, the film more than recovered on investment. 

In 2003, Aishwarya Rai had three film releases; Dil Ka Rishta (January 2003, Hindi) Chokher Bali (a Bengali film, a modest budget sleeper hit + critical success) and Kuch Naa Kaho (another Hindi musical-romantic-drama, also broke even). 

The year she turned 30, Aishwarya Rai was already a Bonafide superstar who could lead a film, and more importantly, open a film and justify the title of being the highest paid Indian actress of the year. 

Aishwarya Rai and Arjun Rampal in Dil Ka Rishta (2003): Aishwarya Rai's home production

Aishwarya Rai's home production per se (written by her mother, co-produced by her brother), the film was meant to showcase Ash's range as an actor but mostly displayed her epic beauty in dreamy locales. A rather shrill soundtrack (have to turn the volume down as Alka Yagnik screams her way through Daiya daiya re and the intro of Saajan saajan), the song and dance routines had their moment as Rai looked so devastatingly beautiful. As per usual. The softer songs, Haye Dil and the lullaby, work wonders. The aesthetics in the film are high... but its glow over show, all superficial style, no substance.  

Arjun Rampal's one note performance is a complete embarrassment. When the Mumbai media was carping on about how models can't act, they always plaster the feature with female models when its guys like Rampal who have the range of A to... B. His National Award was a fluke (and... mostly undeserved) and other than flexing at the gym, the arrogant model-turned-non-actor has been a struggling actor for nearly two decades now. Apart from nepo babies, he gets more chances than others to... fail epically on the big-screen. He bankrupted Rajiv Rai, hasn't given a solo hit... ever... and yet there are those willing to give him another chance. When they should have given more chances to Chatterjee.

The best performance in the entire film is Priyanshu Chatterjee. His natural charm, guy next door looks, ease with the dialogue and fluency with language showed as he was the biggest surprise of the film -- completely out of the blue, he came to endear himself to the audience when there were other, bigger stars in the film shining. Sadly, he didn't get opportunities to further showcase his natural skills as a fine actor who balanced comedy and drama with ease. Its been more than 20 years so no spoiler here but his short but impactful role endures in memory. 

Stunning Aishwarya Rai in Dil Ka Rishta

Stunning Aishwarya Rai in Dil Ka Rishta

Though she danced beautifully, looked incredible and the visuls of this entire song are so striking, there was something shrill in the pitch and tone of this screeching song Dayia dayia re... 

Have seen it often - with the volume on low.... 

Aishwarya Rai and Arjun Rampal in Dil Ka Rishta (2003)

 

Aishwarya Rai and Arjun Rampal in Dil Ka Rishta (2003)

Aishwarya Rai in Dil Ka Rishta (2003)

 Aishwarya Rai in Dil Ka Rishta. Shot extensively in South Africa.  

Aishwarya Rai in Dil Ka Rishta (2003)

Aishwarya Rai, 28, in Dil Ka Rishta (2003)

Celebrity designer Neeta Lulla created several of the most memorable looks and outfits in the film. Her modern take on the traditional salwaar, the colour combinations, the fabric mixes, the tie dye... was a huge trend in the early oughts. 

Dil Ka Rishta (2003)

Aishwarya Rai's look in Dil Ka Rishta (2003).

Aishwarya Rai and Arjun Rampal in Dil Ka Rishta (2003)

Dil Ka Rishta (2003), with Aishwarya Rai and Arjun Rampal.

Priyanshu Chatterjee was one of the best actors in the film in his all too brief role as Ash's husband. Shame he hasn't been recognised more for his talents. 

The film was... just OK. However, Ash looked simply divine in it. As usual.