Aishwarya Rai

Calling all Aishwarya Rai fans; is this look from Khakee or Kyun! Ho gaya na...? 

 

Girl Interrupted: Divya Bharti

 

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 in Khakhee (2004)

Aishwarya Rai in Khakhee (2004). A fantastic film with novel twists and turns, an all-star cast with only Aishwarya Rai as the leading lady... one of Ash's better performances despite a relatively short screentime. 

The right script and an able director, Rai has been unstoppable. Trouble now is most young, contemporary directors are in awe of her - her epic beauty and fame and the unmistakable star wattage that makes her one of the few female superstars in India. But a director cannot be intimidated or eclipsed by that same aura. 

Its a problem and a fate that is familiar to Bollywood watchers. Both Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi faced the same when the captain of the ship was so in awe of the leading lady, their films and performances suffered. When a young director meets the dazzling leading lady, they can't ask for a retake, correct them, edit them... The jaw drop of agreeing to everything a star does, that imbalance of ego and id makes for a lesser movie. 

When a senior director or filmmaker works with Ash, she famously becomes a student and following the direction (hello!) of the maker, her performance and look is elevated. All her performances with makers of note Mani Ratnam, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Mansoor Khan, Yash/Adi Chopra.... are better as they don't fear asking Rai to re-do a scene, song or step.

 

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan: Bollywood's definitive power couple

Through thick and thin, good times and bad, this famed third generation of Bachchans have been powering through despite an onslaught of naysayers and foolish gossip. 

Aishwarya Rai in Taal

 Aishwarya Rai in Taal 

Aishwarya Rai in the Tamil film Jeans (1998): Epic costumes for the former Miss World

 Aishwarya Rai in the Tamil film Jeans (1998): Epic costumes for the former Miss World 

Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi in Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... (2004)

Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi in Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... (2004). 

A misstep in more ways than I can count, but the songs sung by Sadhana Sargam were divine. And enduring... 

Vivek Oberoi's overconfidence was bulging away - on screen, on belly, on bloated face. At a time when the muscle men were taking over box-office, to be an unfit leading man on the big screen was one of several reasons the fame faded away.... 

Aishwarya Rai in Kuch Naa Kaho (2003)

Aishwarya Rai in Kuch Naa Kaho (2003). The songs and dances in the film are so lovely. 

Aishwarya Rai in Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... (2004)

Aishwarya Rai in Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... (2004)

Despite initial reports the film had flopped, the film more than broke even despite a wayward and essentially pointless screenplay... What was the point of this love story?! Love is inevitable when the lead cast was in a relationship behind the scenes?! 

Some great songs, Aishwarya Rai still looking dazzling... even with some much-talked about curls (again for NO reason!)....