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

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

A rather expensive but ultimately mediocre film, but for the songs and some scenes were Aishwarya looks dreamy... which is usual... the movie is a damp squib. Vivek overacts, Bachchan is wasted, Ash's curls were... there. 

Sanjay Dutt and Juhi Chawla strike a pose for MOVIE magazine's fashion special

 

Aishwarya Rai as a model

Aishwarya Rai as a model 

Aishwarya Rai in a black and gold traditional sari and jewellery

Channeling Rekha? A bit. 

This was for a Neeta Lulla exhibition soon after the release of Devdas. Traditionally dressed Aishwarya Rai looked like the classic Indian beauty she is. 

 

Purple reign of Aishwarya Rai in Devdas

Aishwarya Rai, 29, in Devdas (2002). The peak of her epic beauty? 

The last scenes shot for the film --movies in Bollywood are not made in chronological order!--in the exquisitely embroidered purple sari, Rai looked so stunning. In a film where she's weighed down by the costumes, she breezed through with this delicate look. 

 

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. 

Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai at Dhai Akshar Prem Ke audio launch

Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai at Dhai Akshar Prem Ke audio launch
 

Supermodel Lisa Ray crowns Aishwarya Rai

 Lisa Ray, Aishwarya Rai... 

Aishwarya Rai in Aur Pyar Ho Gaya

The summer of 1997, Aishwarya Rai, 24, hit the big-screen in her first Hindi film venture. 

Not a good film by any measure, have seen it several times just to see 'the' Aishwarya Rai... 

 

Aishwarya Rai's greatest stage performance

Aishwarya Rai did a medley of classic Indian songs on stage. Her finest dance performance on record. 

 

Aishwarya Rai at her engagement

January 2007, Aishwarya Rai, 34, seen leaving the Bachchan residence after an engagement party... 

 

The face of Indian cinema according to TIME; Aishwarya Rai

Released in September of 2000, the first of seven films featuring Aishwarya Rai and the man who ended up marrying her, Abhishek Bachchan, Dhai Akshar Prem Ke is... mostly missable. The songs are lovely, Ash dances like a dream, but the movie goes no where fast. 

Mera maahi bada sona hai was a highlight song and dance routine in the film. Ash looks.. well, like the chiseled perfection goddess that she is. The dance is a bit... frantic in parts. She dazzles nevertheless. 

The Staggering beauty of Aishwarya Rai in Taal

The Staggering beauty of Aishwarya Rai in Taal 

Released on August 13 (Sridevi's birthday!) in 1999, two months after the success of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Aishwarya Rai ended the century at the very top. All of 26, she was easily the Number One female star of India.  Box office, awards, top co-stars, films, directors... just no looking back. Except to catch the light. 

Aishwarya Rai as Miss World touring India

 

Channeling Rekha: Bhagyashree

 

The Grecian Goddess with an Indian Soul: Aishwarya Rai

 

1999: The Defining Year of Aishwarya Rai in Bollywood: Taal and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

 1999: The Defining Year of Aishwarya Rai in Bollywood: Taal and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

Aishwarya Rai in Jodhaa Akbar

Aishwarya Rai's perfection in profile made her the most obvious candidate to play royalty. 

 

Aishwarya Rai, Deepika Padukone

 Aishwarya Rai, Deepika Padukone. Profiles that are perfection

Aishwarya Rai in Dhoom 2

 Aishwarya Rai, 33, in Dhoom 2