Beauty Queens from India: Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, Diana Hayden and Yukta Mookhey

Sushmita Sen won the Miss Universe 1994, while Aishwarya Rai was Miss World, then in 1997 Diana Hayden (who also won multiple subtitles including Miss Photogenic) and then in 1999, the tallest of them all... Yukta Mookhey. 

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. 

Iconography: Rekha in Utsav: Iconic curvacious Indian beauty

Rekha, 30, in Utsav. Leena Daru did the memroable costumes and accessories for the leading lady

The iconic blue prom dress on Jaya Prada: Stylist Edit Peak 80s fashion and accessories

The iconic blue prom dress on Jaya Prada: Stylist Edit Peak 80s fashion and accessories. A look so memorable, one look and instantly ya know its from Sharaabi for that incredible song De de pyar de by the aincredible Asha Bhosle. 

Jaya Prada was 22 and Sharaabi was one of the biggest hits of 1984 - however, it was Amitabh Bachchan's towering, award-winning performance that people mostly remember. Unlike Sridevi or Rekha back then, Jaya Prada didn't get as many title or double roles to bolster her Bollywood career. She was often the perfectly lovely accessory to the leading man, she did a few memorable dances (a flawless dancer and so gracefu) but never did that many impactful films in Bollywood. Her collabs with legendary K Vishwanath were incredible, but didn't always translate to great box-office. 

Once called the most perfect face in Indian cinema - by Satyatjit Ray no less, we still think she was incredible but her full potential was rarely tapped. 

Sanjay Bhansali, Aishwarya Rai and Shahrukh Khan at Cannes

Sanjay Bhansali, Aishwarya Rai and Shahrukh Khan at Cannes 
 

Aishwarya Rai: Now and Then

Aishwarya Rai in Ritu Kumar from the early 90s to wearing Manish Malhotra recently. Stunning then, stunning now.

Stunning Aishwarya Rai, 19, with designer Ritu Kumar, the OG classic Indian designer who placed her power, influence and currency on Indian textiles and fabrication. She worked with Ash from the early days, focusing on the classic Indian beauty that she is. 

RIP Aasha Bhosle: Singing legend passes at age 92

Take away the songs of Lata Mangeshkar and Aasha Bhosle from Indian cinema, you take away the soul of Bollywood. Aasha Bhosle sang about 20 songs for Sridevi, and just 10 for Madhuri Dixit. But what songs! .

RIP Aasha Bhosle. 

AI pics of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan trending on social media: AI Slop

 

Aishwarya Rai's AI pics... not a fan of fakes and the halogenic, hallucination aspects of fake imagery and the false premise and trickery of it... 

Aishwarya Rai with Sunil Shetty (aka Suneil Shetty) in (shelved) film Hum Panchi ek Daal Ke (1997)

Aishwarya Rai with Sunil Shetty (aka Suneil Shetty) in (shelved) film Hum Panchi ek Daal Ke which began shooting back in 1997!

Its funny that the two films Ash and Sunil Shetty worked on as leads never completed filming (the other being Radheshyam Sitaram). - considering both were and are utter professionals. Director Shashilal K. Nair famously stated in interviews that unlike Manisha Koirala, if the call time for a shot was 8am, Ash would be ready at 7.30, costume and makeup ready for camera. Manisha was notoriously late during her busy phase. 

The gentle giant Sunil Shetty was also known to be on time and professional - so what went wrong with the making of the film? Funds? Mishaps? Timetable conflicts?! All the above and then some including a notorious incident where in an accident, the film camera fell into the river! 

There ware several images of Aishwarya Rai in dance costume on set looking staggeringly beautiful - and we all know she's the most graceful dancer - pity we'll never see those songs and dances and clips... 

The Tulu speakers did appear in one released film, the ill-fated Umrao Jaan. 

Aishwarya Rai in Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai

Aishwarya Rai in Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai

 

 Above: Film director Satish Kaushik with Aishwarya Rai on set