Aishwarya Rai by Rakesh Shreshta: Peaches and cream: Stardust cover

 Aishwarya Rai in the 1990s,Rakesh Shreshta photography,

TBT to the 90s: Gautam Rajadhyaksha's career changing portrait of young Aishwarya Rai

 

In the Indian-ised version of This is Your Life, ie Jeena Isika Naam Hai - Aishwarya Rai's special episode was memorable for several reasons. When famed photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha swanned in with famed makeup artist Mickey Contractor, Ash was genuinely thrilled and pointed to the two and said, they changed her life and career. 

Aishwarya Rai in the 90s in Bollywood

Aishwarya Rai turns 53 today! To the camera-born, the iconic Indian beauty has done some of the most incredible photoshoots in her stellar career as a model, supermodel! We'll be looking back all month in honour of Mrs Rai-Bachchan.

Her famous centrefold, double page-spread... The Agony and Ecstasy of being Aishwarya Rai ... indeed! 
 

Rekha, red lipstick and black lace

 Note fashion, photography, makeup, styling, the ever changing face of glamour... Rekha 

Rekha's Elizabethen shoot:

 

Rekha: Bollywood's ultimate cover girl: Filmfare from the 1970s and 80s

We dedicated all of October to Rekha. Her covers, her photoshoots, her features. Despite many posts, we haven't covered a fraction of all her incredible photoshoots or her magazine covers - it'll take... a good decade just to chronologically record for posterity her contribution to the medium. The fine art of posing for a cover. She learned from the West, but she often made it her own... One of the few... possibly only... stars who worked on looks, wardrobe, accessories and concept of a cover shoot long before any editor or photographer did. Her collabs were epic... many turned out great. She set the blue print and several others followed. The term "Rekha core' was trending on social media.. referring to iconic images, styling that Rekha launched - she was the pioneer. The others, mere copies. 

 Starting from tomorrow, her successor... Aishwarya Rai. Well, now Aishwarya Rai Bachchan - who turns 53 on Nov 1. 

Rekha on the cover of Star & Style: The series in yellow

Classic 80s glamour. And its greatest exponent Rekha.

Closing out November with the last few sets of vintage, archival Rekha pics.

Rekha rockin' early 90s glam

 

Rekha

Rekha

 

A throwback o July 1990, MOVIE magazine's cover girl Rekha. 

Rekha, 35, was plagued by scandals but she fought on. 

They say Princess Diana was the most photographed woman in the world - albeit often reluctantly.

Rekha was the most photographed woman in India, but she directed those glamorous (more of ten than not) cover shoots.... 

Rekha on the cover of Filmfare

 Rekha on the cover of Filmfare } a statement we could write any decade of the past five.