Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in PS2

Her finest performance yet without the usual trinkets and trophies. Alas. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in PS1 and PS2 was fantastic. 

Aishwarya Rai and Rajinikanth in Enthiran (

Unlike Jeans, Enthiran, aka Robot in Hindi, was loads of fun. Both versions did well. Aishwarya Rai's first film with Rajinikanth and the flawless music helped make this film a blockbuster. 

As always Ash looked like a dream, even in some bizarre costumes. Not Manish Malhotra's best work. Looked a bit rushed and haphazard. Esp the song shot in Peru. Ash's epic beauty covered some esstential flaws. Even the makeup was... done with a heavy brush. Early days. 

Photoshopped within an inch of her life... 

Aishwarya Rai in Jeans

Aishwarya Rai, 25, looked so staggeringly beautiful and danced like a dream in the Tamil film Jeans. The Hindi dub just didn't work...

but the Tamil original version was a smash hit. 

The songs were lovely--AR Rehman, the Mozart of Madras did the dutiful--and Ash danced and looked like the vision she is. 

Shockingly, the expensive film was India's official entry to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language film -- cue laughter. 

An expensive and a hit film in the Southern belt, the movie was not great in any measure. Entertaining perhaps, enlightening? No. Not by any measure. 

But Indian cine politics and what goes to the Oscars has always been debated with heat and passion. No logic.

Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi: Number One Actresses: The Best of Bollywood

Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi: Number One Actresses: The Best of Bollywood 
 

Aishwarya Rai as a model

 

Aishwarya Rai's epic beauty was noted early on - she made others insecure by just walking in. 

It wasn't her fault. 

I mean.. look at her! 

Aishwarya Rai in Jodhaa Akbar: Behind the Scenes

Aishwarya Rai in Jodhaa Akbar: Behind the Scenes 
 

Aishwarya Rai's Stardust cover: But has the magazine died?

Stardust, one of the original film tabloids born in Bombay, was the ultimate masala movie magazine. Gossip, innuendo, the dish on Indian celebs, sneaking looks behind the curtain, the affairs, the scandals... it was the most declicious and deviant of film rags in Bombay. 

As instagram has killed many a magazine, I fear, the death of Stardust, slow and circling the drain... is either immintent or its already happened. We couldn't find a single magazine on newstands, the website hasn't been updated nor its social media... the sad end of a once giant. It didn't go with a bang but with a whimper... 

Stunning Aishwarya Rai in Kuch Naa Kaho (2003)

Stunning Aishwarya Rai in Kuch Naa Kaho (2003)

Juhi Chawal's girl next door gets a MOVIE mag revamp

Juhi Chawal's girl next door gets a MOVIE mag revamp! 

Though the lace cover was rather racy for Juhi, it's just not the image most audiences have of cutie pie Juhi Chawla.