Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai in Khakee

 

One of their best films together, Khakee was a thriller with just the right amount of twists and turns, Rajkumar Santoshi is an underrated film maker. 

Khakee is remembered more fondly for its quality and cast than its box office numbers. It performed decently but was somewhat overshadowed in a competitive year - 2004.

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 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 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!).... 

 

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

 

Stunning Aishwarya Rai, 31, in Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... (2004)

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. 

The all-star cast of Khakee (2004)

 The all-star cast of Khakee (2004); Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan and Aishwarya Rai. 

Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar in Khakee (2004)

 Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar in Khakee (2004) 

Aishwarya Rai in Kyun! Ho Gaya Na...

Aishwarya Rai, 31, in Kyun! Ho Gaya Na... 

The profile that launched a million campaigns... 

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai at Filmfare Awards 2004

Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar in Khakee (2004)

Plot twist! Aishwarya Rai was quite fab in Khakee (2004). With Akshay Kumar, when she finally buried the hatchet. The movie was great - lots of twists and turns. 

Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai at the premier of Bride and Prejudice (2004).

Khakee (2004)

Aishwarya Rai in Khakee (2004)

Raincoat (2004)

Aishwarya Rai and Ajay Devgan in RAINCOAT (2004).

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai at Filmfare Awards 2004

Bride and Prejudice (2004): Aishwarya Rai's biggest Western hit

Gorgeous Aishwarya Rai and Martin Henderson in Bride and Prejudice (2004).