Aishwarya Rai in Dil ka Rishta

A dreadful film... that many Aishwarya Rai fans have seen several times as she looks so staggeringly beautiful in it. 

Ash in Dil ka Rishta. 

Sridevi in the paper

 

Sridevi may not have been 'the first female superstar" of Indian cinema, but she just might be the last one.

Everything she did made headlines... 

Aishwarya Rai in a classic Kerala sari: White and gold

Exquisite Aishwarya Rai in (the flawed but successful) film Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai

In the 2000 drama Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, Aishwarya Rai delivered one of her most poignant performances in her early career. Playing Preeti Vyas - a brave woman who faces ostracization and trauma after being assaulted for testifying against a criminal- she anchored the film’s heavy narrative with grace, dignity, and quiet strength. Critics praised Rai for delivering a restrained, emotionally layered portrayal that transcended conventional melodrama. Her delicate dynamic with co-star Anil Kapoor provided the film its emotional core, earning praise for treating a heavy theme with sensitivity. Her acclaimed portrayal earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, and Ash was 26 years old at the time, looking exquisite in her Neeta Lulla and Manish Malhotra designed costumes.  

Rai had an extraordinarily busy year in 2000 with 6 total releases across Hindi and Tamil cinema:

Film	Language	Box Office Outcome
Mela	Hindi	Flop (Special appearance)
Kandukondain Kandukondain	Tamil	Critical & Commercial Hit
Josh	Hindi	Hit
Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai	Hindi	Hit / Semi-Hit
Dhai Akshar Prem Ke	Hindi	Flop
Mohabbatein	Hindi	Major Blockbuster

Despite mixed reviews for the movie's comedic subplots, Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai emerged as a box office success. 

The 90s was a confused era as the media couldn't decide who was the top actress of the decade as Karisma Kapoor and Manisha Koirala tussled for the top spot. By the turn of the millennium, there was no question, it was the reign of Rai. 

Aishwarya Rai in ,Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai

Aishwarya Rai in Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai

 Aishwarya Rai in Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai 

Aishwarya Rai as a young model for Saris

Early days, I remember cutting out Garden sari ads to have this perfect face on my walls. 

The staggeringly beautiful young Aishwarya Rai as India's youngest supermodel. 

The perfection of Rekha in Silsila

 

 

Released on the summer of 1981, 14 August to be precise, Rekha, then 26, was at the absolute peak of her prowess and peacock-ian beauty when the affairs-of-the-heart, musical melodrama Silsila released.

Empowered by fellow aesthete producer/director Yash Chopra, with the camera work of Kay Gee capturing Rekha in all her polished glory, no leading lady commanded screen space with such ease and elegance. Not a strand of hair out of place, her impeccable fashion (which deteriorated dramatically by the time Khoon Bhari Maang and Geetanjali released!), has to be studied as one does an unholy book of haute Hindi film fashion. 

Rekha when reigned in by writers and directors she admired -- Yash Chopra, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar -- didn't go completely off the rails. Lesser men who didn't have the courage to edit Re' fell folly to her over-the-top sartorial shenanigans. Yash Chopra had a more deft hand; be it Silsila or Faasle, Rekha looked polished, refined... just damn near perfect.

Rekha with Yash Chopra on the sets of Faasla - a rare pic 

Deepike Padukone at the TIME 100 Red Carpet

 

Aishwarya Rai's classic dance pose

Aishwarya Rai, 26, in Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai.

Released on 25 August 2000, it was a hit at the box office. Made on a budget of around ₹9 crore, it grossed approximately ₹30.26 crore in India, making it one of the higher-grossing films of 2000. Some trade reports called it a "hit," though a couple of sources described its performance as "average" overall. It performed well enough to be considered successful commercially. Post the summer of success of 1999, she was unquestionably the top star of her time and easily one of the busiest phases of her career as that year alone, Ash appeared in six films that year, including 

Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai

Mohabbatein

Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke

Kandukondain Kandukondain (Tamil)

Josh

and the much-delayed Albela. 

Aishwarya Rai received nominations for Best Actress for her performance (playing a rape survivor) at several major awards, Filmfare Award for Best Actress (2001), Star Screen Award for Best Actress, Zee Cine Award for Best Actress, Bollywood Movie Award for Best Actress. She didn't win any but was perhaps too busy to even notice. Fellow model turned actress Sonali Bendre won Best Supporting Actress at the Star Screen Awards for the film. 

Personally, not a huge fan of the romantic action-drama (a remake of a Bengali film) co-starring Anil Kapoor and Sonali Bendre. It was directed by Satish Kaushik and produced by Boney Kapoor.

Aishwarya Rai meets the press in Delhi: TBT to 2000

Aishwarya Rai, 26, meets the press in Delhi: TBT to 2000
 

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 at an event

 Floral for spring... 

 Ash looking incredible as always. 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wearing Manish Malhotra at Cannes 2025

 

Abujani Sandeep Khosla: Sridevi: Goddess Most Golden

Only Sridevi could get away with it. Attending Manish Malhotra's 50th birthday party--themed gold--she wore a stunning Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla ensemble and was easily the most elegant and best-dressed diva at the event. 

Be it Shahrukh Khan or Aishwarya Rai or Madhuri Dixit, all lined up together for a picture with 'the great Sridevi.'

 

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. 

 

So sari: Aishwarya Rai

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes 2025: A sartorial relief!

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes 2025: A sartorial relief! 

After last year's truly disastrous red carpet appearances --and I say this as a huge Ash fan--this year, was a welcome relief. Channeling vintage glamour, Indian elegance and rarefied stardom that's exclusively under the aegis of Aishwarya, all serious, hardcore fans breathed a sigh of relief. Thank GOD it wasn't a an assault like the ill-conceived and poorly executed costume fiasco of 2024/2023... 

Ash needs a stylist and designer not in awe of her galactic beauty. No matter what her shape, size, she's truly blessed/cursed with those looks. 

Aishwarya Rai with Salman Khan and family at the audio launch of Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000)

Aishwarya Rai with Salman Khan and family at the audio launch of Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000). 

TBT to October 2025!

"Ash is very pretty," said Raveena Tandon. Just a few films old, Rai was the guest of honour at the audio launch of the (awful) film Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye. 

The film had Raveena, Rani, Pooja Batra... but Aishwarya stole the show at the audio launch! 

Fresh off the success of Taal and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, there was no bigger female star at the time! Sridevi had retired, Madhuri had married and moved to the US... the roads were all clear for Rai. 

Seema -- finally a celebrity (if not a star!) thanks to that awful binge-watch show Bollywood Housewives-- when she was married to Sohail Khan (Salman Khan's youngest brother), and Ash was sitting with the Khan family table. 

Despite the parade of stars, all eyes were on stunning Aishwarya Rai - who mostly sat with Rani Mukherjee's mother (Rani was away on a shoot). 

Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar in Khakee (2004)

 Aishwarya Rai and Akshay Kumar in Khakee (2004) 

TBT: Aishwarya Rai on the catwalk

 Ash hits the stage... walking in a sari... dreamy Aishwarya Rai.