Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 2026

Wearing Manish Malhotra, after years, possibly a decade, of the most frightening sartorial selects, at long last Aishwarya Rai Bachchan seems to be returning to form. Slowly, painstakingly... 
 

Aishwarya Rai in 2013

 Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, arriving at an event hosted for Hugh Jackman. 

Rekha in Umrao Jaan: Perfection

 

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Aishwarya Rai with Shahrukh Khan on the sets of Mohabatein (2000)

Just three years into the film world, Aishwarya Rai was already a top star in brief cameo in the Shahrukh Khan/Amitabh Bachchan led Mohabbatein (2000). 

A film I had a problem with from the get-go as, if you know Hindi, there is no word as Mohabbatein. Written and directed by Aditya Chopra who is a true cinema buff, who made one of my all time favourite films DDLJ and a movie I hated passionately, Befikre. Sadly in fact, from DDLJ onwards, its been diminishing returns, his films have had more glamour, glitz and high production values, but the poetry has been bumper-car sticker lite, not as profound as intended, which always befuddled; when you have acccess to Javed Akhtar, Gulzar and Honey Irani...cough cough... why not tap into the natural resources of great writing and profound thinking that only age can bring in?! 

When Mohabbatein first came out - my mother, a Hindi teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya - first looked at the word and went... what??!!  A sign of the haan-ji-sir-ji culture of Mumbai film industry, in his entireeeeee team, no one had the courage to bring it up to the boss-man, that the word ain't right?! 

Anyhoo, but nothing succeeds like success as of course this movie was a smash hit and made tonnes of money - think nine times the budget... so who argues with a crore-maker when we are hazaar-critics. 

The picture; well, Ash was 26 during the making of the film, her co-star 34. King Khan 

This on set pic, Khan holding the cig is the dead give-away, sparked rumours of the alleged affair between the two which created chaos in her personal life, the storied chaos of the Salman Khan alliance that sold a lot of tabloids and earned the keep of many a hack. Doubt there was any truth to it other than Ash's fandom of SRK and Khan's famed affection for all his co-stars, but Indian tabloids rarely let facts get in the way of a good newsstand selling (fiction) story. Which reminds me, the images of a kiss between Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai (a cheeky one so relax!), allegedly earned the photographer top dollar, well, top Ruppee as it was a Cine Blitz exclusive.  

Rai looked glorious in the movie - truly a vision and backed with iconic songs, two scenes and a wardrobe that is still being emulated to date, she proved that its not the length of the role but its impact that matters. 

We long to watch Rai and Khan in a film again. Sadly, we think those days are done. But one never knows... we can manifest it to happen with a Netflix budget or something... 

As a film, it felt... fluffy. Essentially a launch pad for six newcomers, a life changing career move that.. sadly they couldn't sustain. Mohabatein was a summer, easy-breezy-blockbuster - that released in October! Delayed productions as Rai fell ill in between... The film requires very little thought and its candy and gelato colour scheme just made for fun viewing, not profundity. Which no one is really looking for in a Bollywood musical of large-scale production. 

Fan of parts of the movie... others are so skippable. Always wondered how they brought all those Canadian maple leaves to India... Some sad sack had to carry that from continent to continent.... 

Rekha in Utsav (1984): The Indian Goddess of Eros in the 1980s

 

Rekha, 28, during the making of the film Utsav which released in December 1984. Her portrayal of the courtesan Vasantsena in the 1984 erotic drama is often praised as one of her standout performances from that period. 

The costumes for the historical, possibly mythological drama, were designed by Jayoo Patwardhan and Nachiket Patwardhan (credited for art direction and costumes; they handled the elaborate period looks). Rekha's iconic and sensual outfits in the film were particularly acclaimed and contributed to its visual appeal.

The film was shot primarily in 1982–83 (about 1–2 years of principal photography and related work in locations like Kolkebail, Karnataka, plus studio scenes in Bombay). Post-production (including an English version) extended into 1984, with the full process spanning roughly 2 years before release.

Utsav released on December 21, 1984 in India; some sources note an earlier censor certificate in August 1984, but the theatrical release was December).

The film won several notable awards, including a National Film Award: Best Art Direction (Nachiket Patwardhan and Jayoo Patwardhan) at the 32nd National Film Awards; two Filmfare Awards (at the 33rd Filmfare Awards): Best Lyricist (Vasant Dev for "Mann Kyun Behka") and Best Female Playback Singer (Anuradha Paudwal for "Mere Man Baje Mridang"). 

Additional recognition includes Rekha winning the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award for Best Actress (Hindi).

Amitabh Bahchcan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai

Before she was a Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai with Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan at the audio launch of... Dhai Akshay Prem Ke... I think. 
 

Aishwarya Rai

Every photographer's dream, Ash. 
 

Madhuri Dixit-Nene in Devdas (2002)

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

Stunning Rekha at the premiere of Ram Balram in 1980

Rekha, 26, attends the grand premiere of Ram Balram - a throwback to November 28, 1980. 

That blouse, that sari, the accessories, that makeup - this could be 2026, not a shot from 46 years ago!! 

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Armani at the Oscars: TBT to 2011

Throwback to Feb 27, 2011, legendary beauty, the iconic Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, 37,  wearing Armani arrives on the red carpet for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards show, Hollywood, California, U.S. - OSCARS 2011.