Aishwarya Rai's MOVIE magazine cover shoot from 1997: All Outtakes

Aishwarya Rai in her first Hindi film Aur Pyar Ho Gaya

 

Aishwarya Rai in her first Hindi film Aur Pyar Ho Gaya 

Aishwarya Rai with Sunil Shetty (aka Suneil Shetty) in (shelved) film Hum Panchi ek Daal Ke (1997)

Aishwarya Rai with Sunil Shetty (aka Suneil Shetty) in (shelved) film Hum Panchi ek Daal Ke which began shooting back in 1997!

Its funny that the two films Ash and Sunil Shetty worked on as leads never completed filming (the other being Radheshyam Sitaram). - considering both were and are utter professionals. Director Shashilal K. Nair famously stated in interviews that unlike Manisha Koirala, if the call time for a shot was 8am, Ash would be ready at 7.30, costume and makeup ready for camera. Manisha was notoriously late during her busy phase. 

The gentle giant Sunil Shetty was also known to be on time and professional - so what went wrong with the making of the film? Funds? Mishaps? Timetable conflicts?! All the above and then some including a notorious incident where in an accident, the film camera fell into the river! 

There ware several images of Aishwarya Rai in dance costume on set looking staggeringly beautiful - and we all know she's the most graceful dancer - pity we'll never see those songs and dances and clips... 

The Tulu speakers did appear in one released film, the ill-fated Umrao Jaan. 

Young Aishwarya Rai in her first shelved Hindi film: Indian

 Aishwarya Rai, 24, in the shelved film Indian. The movie with Sunny Deol that never saw the light of day... 

Aishwarya Rai in Aur Pyar Ho Gaya

The summer of 1997, Aishwarya Rai, 23, hit the big-screen in her first Hindi film venture. 

Not a great film, but as a rom com its... its fine. Have seen it several times just to see 'the' Aishwarya Rai...  When she first bursts into the screen, I remember watching a cinema full of theatre goers who whistled. She was a star-born from the get-go.  

 

Aishwarya Rai's first Hindi film: Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1997)

Aishwarya Rai's first Hindi film: Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1997). Her breathtaking intro shot, song, look.

Below rare pics of Ash with her costume designer Neeta Lulla, behind the scenes. 

 

Aishwarya Rai and Bobby Deol in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997)

Aishwarya Rai and Bobby Deol in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997)

Sunny Deol and Aishwarya Rai in Indian (1997)

Sunny Deol and Aishwarya Rai in Indian (1997). One of the most grand launches in the history of Bollywood. Sadly, the film was shelved. Then brought back to life again - but without Ash.

Aishwarya Rai and Sunny Deol posed on the cover of Stardust during the pre-publicity shots - March 1997 issue. 

 

Aishwarya Rai in Iruvar: 6 Films of Mani Ratnam with Aishwarya Rai

Released on 14 January 1997, Aishwarya Rai, 24, finally made her big-screen debut in the Tamil now-classic, Iruvar. A double role, her staggering beauty lit up the big screen. For a first film, it was a brave performance. Guided by her 'guru' Mani Ratnam, it began the longest professional association between the two, director and muse. All her career highs link Rai and Ratnam. 

1. Iruvar (1997)
2. Guru (2007)
3. Raavan /Raavanan (2010) 
4. PS1 (2022)
5. PS2 (2023)

 

Madhuri Dixit and Akshay Khanna in Mohabbat (1997)

Madhuri Dixit and Akshay Khanna in Mohabbat (1997).

Saroj Khan choreographs. Madhuri Dixit's most frequent collaborator. 

Er... why do the lead romantic pair look so pissed?! lol. Sun in the eye?! 
 

Aishwarya Rai in her first film poster: Iruvar (1997)

Aishwarya Rai, 24, in her first film poster: Iruvar (1997)

 

Aishwarya Rai in her first Hindi film Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997)

 Aishwarya Rai in her first Hindi film Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997)

 Though the film was written off originally, the movie more than doubled its budget at the box-office making it Aishwarya Rai's first official Hindi hit. 

Originally the critics were not that kind to her - but the industry was. She bagged all the mega banners in one go; be it Mani Ratnam, Shankar, Yash Raj, Subash Ghai and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. She had also been offered Karan Johar's films and Rajshri's (but it didn't come to being). 

She was compared to Madhuri Dixit in 1997 - from her first film when Madhuri had done 70 films already, which wasn't a fair comparison. In just 3 years of course, Ash climbed to the top with sheer hard work and dedication. 

Aishwarya Rai and Bobby Deol in Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1997)

Aishwarya Rai and Bobby Deol in Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1997)
 

How it began... 

Madhuri Dixit in April 1997: A trendy MOVIE magazine cover

 Madhuri Dixit in April 1997: A trendy MOVIE magazine cover 

TBT: Sunny Deol, Aishwarya Rai and Bobby Deol

TBT: Sunny Deol, Aishwarya Rai and Bobby Deol in Aishwarya's first Hindi film Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1997). 
 

Aishwarya Rai in Iruvar (1997)

Aishwarya Rai, age 23, during the making of her first Tamil film, Iruvar.

Sunny Deol and Aishwarya Rai from the film Indian (1997)

Sunny Deol and Aishwarya Rai from the film Indian. Correction, from the shelved film Indian. Damn, wish we could at least see the dances they shot! Rai looks... ravishing! 

After a lavish launch and the picturisation of one or two songs, the big-budget extravaganza was shelved. Alas. 

Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1997)

Aishwarya Rai in her first Hindi film; Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1997)

Aishwarya Rai in Aur Pyar Ho Gaya (1997): 90s contemporary Indian fashion

Aishwarya Rai, 24, dazzles in the dances of her first Hindi film, Aur Pyar Ho Gaya, which released in the summer of 1997! 

With makeup and styling led by Mickey Contractor, Rai's looked perfect in every scene and song. 

Indian: Aishwarya Rai's would-be Hindi film debut with Sunny Deol: Throwback to 1997

TBT to 1997: The launch of Indian with Sunny Deol and Aishwarya Rai - this was one of the most lavish launches for a movie and soon after Aishwarya Rai won Miss World - she was (and still is!) the biggest thing in the news. Sadly, the film got shelved although we believe a song or two were picturised.

Ash attended the launch with her mum Vrinda Rai.

There are several stills of Aishwarya Rai on the set looking incredible that leaked online. Pity the songs never came out. She looks oh-so-stunning. Wish they'd release whatever was shot online.