When it was announced recently that Abhishek Bachchan (tall, dark, ludicrously
handsome) had proposed to Aishwarya Rai (slender, dark, ludicrously
beautiful) there was a collective swoon among the population of India. He is
nicknamed Baby B and comes from India's premier acting dynasty (his father,
Amitabh, is like Sir Ian McKellen and Sean Connery rolled into one, his late
grandfather one of India's leading poets), and Aishwarya is India's
sweetheart, sex symbol and number one box-office draw: Keira Knightley meets
Catherine Zeta-Jones with added Kate Winslet. In the past year, they've made
three films together they were lovers on screen and now they will be bride
and groom for real. It's Brad and Angelina without the baggage.
Speculation about the Big Day is now a national pastime. According to some
reports, there are astrologers working out the best possible date; there
will be elephants to ferry the couple through the throng in Mumbai,
orchestras, feasting, fireworks and a celebrity guestlist that reads like a Who's
Who in India, including cricketers, politicians and musicians. It could
make Liz and Arun's nuptials look like a sideshow. For these two are huge
stars in a land where films, and actors, are an obsession.
"I'm like everybody else," says the bride-to-be. "I believe in
love, in being with the right person. I'm a normal girl, but I want a
special day, just like any woman and, God willing, a family of my own."
Don't ask for details of the wedding, though, because that would spoil the
fun. One thing is certain: the bride, known as Ash to her friends, will be
gorgeous. And it's been a long time since she's lived what might be called a "normal"
life.
Aishwarya Rai is one of the most beautiful women in the world. Who says so?
Well, the judges of Miss World (she held the title in 1994), Harpers &
Queen, Hello! and Julia Roberts, who after watching her in the
lavish potboiler Devdas, declared that she was the most beautiful
woman she had ever seen.
"That was embarrassing; at first I didn't believe she said that,"
says the recipient of this compliment. "I thought it was a rumour
started by a journalist. But it's sweet. She's an incredible actor and she
seems like a wonderful person, so all you can do is say, ŒThank you.'"
Today, in a London hotel suite used as the backdrop for this photo-shoot,
she's dressed in a rather conservative tailored black suit. When nature was
handing out its birthday presents, she got lucky big, almond-shaped
blue-green eyes, lips to rival Jolie's in the bee-stung stakes, honeyed skin
and a figure to die for.
"It's interesting when I'm given a position on these beauty lists,"
she says. "To me, it's not a statement that I'm truly the most
beautiful woman in the world or among the top 100, but it's a validation of
the strength of support I have, because it's my fans who are putting votes
in. I'm lucky, because I do have a lot of support."
She does indeed. It is said that there are no fewer than 17,000 websites
devoted to her, the number growing each year. When she has a new movie out,
her fan mail arrives by the lorry load. Shilpa Shetty may have made a big
splash with her stint in the Big Brother house, but Rai is the real
deal in India. She's the traffic-stopping beauty who gets the pick of the
Bollywood roles and, increasingly, some of the best Western ones.
Her name can get a film greenlit. When she decided to play the lead in Provoked
which is based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, who, after an
arranged marriage, suffered horrific abuse at the hands of the British
husband whom she was later convicted of killing it was all systems go. "I
was doing The Mistress of Spices in the UK when they approached me. I
thought it was a story that needed to be told," she says. "But the
pressure was on because I had a five-week gap in May, and if they couldn't
do it then I was booked up for two years. Fortunately, they were ready to
roll when I was."
They certainly were. With Aishwarya Rai's name above the title, it's virtually
guaranteed a huge audience on the sub-continent. She knows this. "The
advantage of me doing this film is, God willing, it does get incredible
attention." At times, she's gloriously Miss Worldy. "I'm blessed;
I thank the Lord that I've been in the right place at the right time. With
films like Provoked, hopefully I'm able to contribute."
But outside India, her fan base, and her reputation, is growing. Robert De
Niro requested a meeting to discuss projects. "That was bizarre. People
used to ask me my favourite actors and I always used to say De Niro and
Meryl Streep." The latter she will work with on a film called Chaos
playing an abused prostitute befriended by a middle-class woman (Streep)
against the wishes of her husband. And in 2003, she was the first Indian
actress to be invited to sit on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. "An
incredible honour, really," she says. Then L'Oréal signed her up as
part of its "Dream Team", joining Catherine Deneuve and Andie
MacDowell.
She has already worked on several Western films Gurinder (Bend It
Like Beckham) Chadha cast her as Lalita, the Lizzie Bennet role, in a
glorious version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (renamed Bride
& Prejudice) for her first English-language role, and later this
year we'll see her opposite Sir Ben Kingsley and Colin Firth in The Last
Legion, an epic set in a crumbling Roman empire.
Rai got flabby stomach. Hey Rai, take it easy, eat less, exercise more!
Judy C S, Los Angeles, USA
She was blessed with certain attributes and she is making the most of them in a positive way.
Please people be proud of our Indian women,I`m one of her Fans that love her ,Ash is talented, and has worked hard to make India Proud .
Aishwarya Rai keep up the good work,God Bless You!
Dolly Naidoo, Alberton, South Africa
I don't understand why people keep lying all the times .why do they find ash beautiful inspite being aware of the fact that she is arrogant , fake and nothing more than a plastic .As far as her acting is concerned she just don't know how to act and should take some acting lessons from kajol
ranal, melbourne, australia
i dont think ash is so pretty but in dil ka rishta she was over the years she has lost her beauty but i would give her out of 8 out of 10she isnt that ugly coz i know she is a lovely person on the inside.
anam r, bradford, ingland
i'm sorry but here on the other side of the world the only person we car about is Aishwarya Rai. ever since i first saw her in Bride and Prejudice i am have been head over heels...i'm not really fancy about bollywood itself...but anything with her it amazing! her talent in acting and dancing...my God...she is impossible to describe...and i wont even mention her beauty cause seriously..when you see her you cant think straight no matter how hard you try...i ansolutely love and admire her in every way...no matter what ethnicity, age or sex..she truly is an inspiration and for that she's far more beautiful on the inside....and thats saying ALOT...i love love love her! and i really want her to do a full on Hollywood action movie...she'll kick butt!
cant wait to see her in Pink Panther..she is the new Taj Mahal :)
her husband is so ugly though.....then again no one will ever be good enough for her..just as long as she's always happy! and people who hate are just jealous cause she's perfect
Ashley, San Fernando,
Girls (such as Priya K) always make far more negative remarks about Aiswarya than do men. I wonder why.... Couldn't POSSIBLY be jealousy, now, could it?
Anpadh, Fort Lauderdale, USA
She is to Hollywood the exotic beauty that Sade is to music while the first can't act the latter has reached iconic status writing music with her band.
cdl, London, UK
I had heard people pulling one's legs just because that person was the best. I think the same attitude is reflected whenever Ash is in the picture. She is really very beautiful, down to earth and decent when compared to any other bollywood actress. She has such a grace that she can make a horridly vulgar scene so aesthetic looking. None of today's Bollywood actresses are a match to her because she doesn't need to expose for her films to sell. She is a person so full of grace and humanity and people mistake her to be too proud. Come on India the World has already recognised her.Its time we keep our jealousies aside and accept the fact that she is really gifted.
Chaitra, Bangalore, India
Ashwariya can't act. Mistress of Spices was a big fat joke. "Chilies, please don't hurt him! Haldi, please help me! oooh...I can't leave the shop!"
Bride and prejudice was okay except for Ashwariya, she over did it. I didn't buy her "I'm a good little Indian girl routine on 60 minutes.
She should take some acting lessons to go with that beauty or else she's going to fade away before she gets started in Hollywood.
Priya K, Toronto, Canada
she is stunning in this pic.......Nidhika Jajoo
nidhika, london, uk
Ash is talented, and has worked hard to make India proud since her winning as miss world. I feel proud to see her Longini ads all over Auckland city in NZ. All my colleagues and non Indian friends think she is very beautiful; I still cant understand why some Indians feel she isnt. Thanks Ash for using the given opportunity and skills to put India in limelite all over the world. Im a big fan of yours, and bollywood.
Romeeza Shah, Auckland, New Zealand
I've met Aishwariya rai she's a wonderful person.She must be the only actress to reach this height,you name it and she has it.She truely has a perfect face and people who don't agree has a problem because there not good-looking.I say well done ash and keep up the good work.
vasanti, London, England
She's gorgeous. She can act (not in Dhoom 2 though). But she was fantastic in Umrao Jaan
JZA, Ottawa, Canada
Ash is not great actress, she is beautiful. i think abhishek bachchan is not as level as ash. coz Abhi dont know acting he is got chance in film becouse of his great father Mr. Bachchan. Abhi's level is very lower than Ash.
I feel best actresses are Rani, Kajol, Priti
Loly, Wembly, Wembly
She is beautiful and is making most of that gift / talent...why crib about it? Kudos for going after what she wants.
RR, chennai, india
I do not think Ash is the prettiest thing in the world, that is pushing it. I think kajaol's face is far more pretty plus she is a great actress, ash gets by on her much advertsied looks and her dress sense is pathetic, her dress at cannes opening day 2007 is very unflattering. She needs to take acting lessons.
laila, toronto, canada
Aishwarya- beautiful. Acting - lacking, subpar, and most times confusing , and she has no guts to portray a strong woman. She strives to portry a victim - in love , in war, in pathos, in hardships. Eeks, even the average indian beauty has enough strength to ride through the harshness of life, with strength . She is invited to Hollywwod only because she does not have black eyes. You think Bipasha could not be a dark Roman princess,no ? And even though she may be graceful, she flirts and giggles unladylike , so that it were embarassing to watch her as a guest on 60 minutes. Everyone helps out in charities to a person here and there. And as usual she had a politicalIy correct answer to her chartable drives. I want this "powerful" lady to do something smashing ,sponsor a cleanliness drive in Mumbai.
Enuff said about Le Ash. To me , symbol of beauty and strength is Mrs. Kajol.
Tora, San Jose, USA
I really believe that ash is extremeley beautiful, intelligent and a fantasic actress and she has proved this by obtaining three best actress awards. Some one had said that Katrina is more beautiful than ash but i totally disagree, Katrina is not a full Indian and i must say she cant talk great hindi and does not act well so there should not be a comparison. However, im really proud of ash and hope her marriage is a true success.
monica gill, oxford, england
I think some of the comments said about Aishwarya are rather harsh. She is beautiful as are many other women in thsi world-you can't say she is the most beautiful women in the world because we are just comparing her with the celebrity world. Nevertheless, she does have good acting skills and even though there are other very stunning ex miss world/universes from India like Priyanka and Sushmita, Aishwarya has made it the biggest because of the tremendous hard work she puts in, which is credit in itself. She would not be acknowledged solely for her beauty if her acting skills were poor only due to her beauty. Let the woman do her job, and admire the fact that she's representing asian women globally!
Raz, London, UK
Only the media has crowned her so called Beautiful
Gone are thode days,now it is Katrina I guess every one agees with me
Rahul, Hyd, India
Ash is not the best actress in Bollywood but her acting has improved over time. I want to see her in a film where she gets really ugly a la Charlize Theron in "Monster" so everyone can simply react to her [Ash] acting and not focus on her beauty in the film. And oh yeah, I am a fan of Ash and wish her nothing but in best in both her professional and personal life.
Erica Wong, Honolulu, Hawaii
Well First of All is Beauty necessary for Acting, the answer is NO? However, here in India n Pakistan, Actress should be pretty, that is the Criteria and Merit.
I have seen the movies of Aishwarya Rai, not in a single movie her acting is convincing. She is just a showpiece. She over act and react at the same time. You cannot compare her with Julia Roberts, Merl Streep etc. Beauty is not a talent, it is a gift, and gifts are usually disturbed unjustly. She might be a good person, but defiantly not a good actor, and if you are not a good actor, then you are not an actor at all.
Adeel, Islamabad, Pakistan
Well First of All is Beauty necessary for Acting, the answer is NO? However, here in India n Pakistan, Actress should be pretty, that is the Criteria and Merit.
I have seen the movies of Aishwarya Rai, not in a single movie her acting is convincing. She is just a showpiece. She over act and react at the same time. You cannot compare her with Julia Roberts, Merl Streep etc. Beauty is not a talent, it is a gift, and gifts are usually disturbed unjustly. She might be a good person, but defiantly not a good actor, and if you are not a good actor, then you are not an actor at all.
Adeel, Islamabad, Pakistan
When I saw her first film I thought she is bad actress, but after watching her films like Taal, Devdas, Hum dil de chuke sanam and recently provoked, I think she is not only very beautiful she is very good actress. She is truly Indian. She is sometimes diplomatic in her interviews but that is the way most Indian women behave. Congratulations for her big day. I think she and Abhishek look great together.
Sati, London, UK
why bring shilpas name into this what they both have done is so different just after ash's wedding shilpa will have more limelight because the shelf life for married women be it someone like ash is short in bollywood- shilpa herself is going australia london and america im really proud of her why pit shilpa against ash they're both different shilpa is more relatable she has a wicked sense of humour wheras ash is almost robotic and very political.
pogo, Rochdale, United Kingdom
She has a plastic face and plastic smile. Jaya Bachan had to say on recieving life time achievement award that Ash is homely and simple1 I cant believe it, she is really a politician.
gaity, manchester,
She is definitly charismatic and thats y we r here writing abt her.so the question of her being the most beutiful or not seems funny but she is someone hot,sexy and beautiful without doubt.
Tom, Nottingham, UK
i really do feel that she is incredibly beautiful. however she needs to prove her worth as an actress. most beautiful in the world? NO!! ive seen darker skinned indian woman who are incredibly striking such as Rani Mukherji who is by far the most talented actress in Bollywood. its quite sad that us, as indians still will not accept anything other than fair skinned as beautiful...and we want to be at the forefront of modern times??
sureshni , cape town, south africa
Aishwarya IS beautiful by anyone's standards, as are most Indian women. They are graceful and elegant, whether rich or poor. No, I am not biased - I am a middle-aged white woman from England!
Sue Smith, Southampton, England
Who says she is pretty or beautiful? In my opinion, she is not worth all these hypes and limelights. There are lots of other actreses in Bollywood like Sushmita, Preity Zinta who are far better than her. Aishwarya seems so fake like some kind of plastic mannequins, without any emotions or charisma in her acting.Not just in her movies, but even in her interview she sounds so artificial and giggles without any reason. The girl has no class and no substance...So plez, for chrissake...stop saying her beautiful because she is not even that.
sashi, Delhi, India
OK, I'd say she's beautiful. Most beautiful in the world? Come on, that's ludicrous. I worked with one young Indian-born woman who I'd say was just as beautiful as Ash, if not more so. And she was a great professional mentor and an encouraging person for me to push for greatness (as she has). In a more worthwhile occupation than this actress, in my opinion. And married across cultures to a white American guy, so I give her more credit than this actress here. Ah, and another young Hispanic woman who was undoubtedly as strikingly beautiful in her own way just as Ash profiled here. And a great zest for life and sense of humor...with infectious joy. So, this actress is a fortunate woman, and a generally good introduction to Indian women, but most beautiful in the universe? Please, I see women every day in NYC that are as beautiful...and there's enough stuff to put on to equalize all that pretty much. This from your rather cynical 24-year-old American male. :-)
DanL, near NYC, United States
Aishwarya Rai seems like a respectful, well-grounded young woman who just happens to be jaw-droppingly beautiful. If I had a daughter, I'd be happy for her to want to emulate Ms. Rai.
Mrs. Ted, Dallas, Texas, USA
I think Callie Northagen from the Home Shopping Network is much better than Aishwarya Rai.
teddy, north bergen, NJ
Well she is beautiful but can't act to save her life!
Dilara, New Delhi, India
Great Article----yes, she truly is blessed and has handled herself very elegantly like a true lady! We wish her the best for the upcoming marriage which is only six days away from today--may she find her happiness in the great Bachan household--they are a class by themselves---we in India, feel proud of them all.
suman, gurgaon, india
She is beautiful not just pretty and i think that she is a good actress. I watched Bride & Prejudice and I actually like that movie a lot.Also it seems to me that she is a great person too.
manal, Marrakesh, Morocco
She was blessed with certain attributes and she is making the most of them in a positive way. This is more than can be said for many of us. Whether she is truely a great actor or not is not the issue; that she commands a box-office draw and a huge fan base is. Talent, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
Eyecare, Heidelberg, Germany
She came up because the dress deh wears are toooo short three pieces. But this is not new in Holywood. In Bollywood this was the in thinh in Holiwood no dress is too much fro Rai I wish her a naked holiday.
Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD, Dar-Es-salaam, Tanzania
aish is definitely beautiful...but a very poor artist...she too artificial when it cums to acting...n doesnt knw hw 2 carry her role well....jus because she gets to act in hollywood doesnt make her a great actor.....she still needs to improve.....anyway wishin her happiness in her married life!
surabhi, chennai,
she's boring, saw Bride and Prejudice and oh my god! it's so obvious she struggles with her acting, bad film too.
Ash should stay what she is at heart and mind, a beauty pagan.She seems very fake and doesn't believe a word of what she says.
zulifkar, London, uk,
What sad people there are who can't celebrate a nice lady who has had good fortune and uses that good fortune kindly. And also entertains many, many people. I liked her in the movies I've seen and am delighted she's getting married to someone she loves. It's a happy time for anyone. Good luck to them both, and let's hope the spiteful sourpusses cheer up one day.
Good article too, thanks.
Zarich , London , UK
Saw Provoked,bad film , good intentions. Now in regards to Miss Rai acting....very dissapointing, really unconvincing, uncharismatic and lacking that special something that makes good actresses shine through. Her lack of talent doesn't make her beautiful, makes her sad. After the screening of Provoked I went home and so the DVD of Volver. Now Penelope Cruz in that film is not only beautiful but marvelous. Her talent shines, her charisma is there in every frame of the film. Unfortunately i can't say the same about Ash.
Rose Smith, London, uk,
Yes, yes, that's the thing. There is no humility there. I have seen the most successful celiebrities and beautiful women state how fortunate they are to be where they are and are very grateful. Ms. Rai on the other hand, even in this interview complains about how much attention she gets. It could be just immaturity or hate to say it lack of depth.
Either way, I don't understand the fascination.
Sahay, New York, New York
She was belssed with an attractive form - so far as - the majority of our conditioned aesthetic sensibilties- consider so, ... though wish she would be honest and accept that she really is not gifted with the best acting ability! Hype and innovation may still carry her far ( as package is the game of today's times)- though the grace in accepting ones failings ...well that is the timeless virtue she has not shown to date, wish she would. The grace to accept the truth and acknowledege it, even of you happen to get handed an oscar... is what a girl is really remembered for!
Truth is what the concept of India is about... wish eveyone had the courage to accept strengths and accept where there is room to improve... that is the first step to changing anything... Will it ... eventually turn into a strength? - well that is in the hands of fate, and time will tell!
Pami, London,
They conveniently left out the part about how she married a tree during her engagement to Mr. Bachan. Supposedly an outlawed practice that promotes untouchability. Proud? Being and Indian American woman, this woman makes me cringe. The few Indian movies I've seen of her, she is either being knocked over the head or having her hair pulled by some man, like some how it's romantic . I'm not talking about Provoked where abuse is the main topic, and violence of course is necessary.
Proud? Now Gandhi makes me proud. I'd even say Mother Theresa, but she wasn't Indian.
She's an average pretty girl, that has above average luck. I have seen really dark beautiful classically beautiful Indian girls walking through the streets in India, who are not even given the chance to shine, because by Indian standards, they are not considered beautiful. Sad.
Sahay, New York, New York
Ash is a true icon and has the presence to show case the best of India. Ash truly has done a lot to bring recognition for India internationally. Her ads flutter in big stores the world over and her beauty shines through with intensity.She has much to be appreciated about and women do see her her as an example and model in many respects.
geetha, Hyderabad, India
this beautifull aish has taken india to new strides, it feels great when u roaming in posh geneva in switzerland n u c her posters everywhere, being a brand ambassador for longinis and many more..makes u feel proud of bien an indian...
may god bless her with much greater success and a great married life....
god bless
SUMIT KAUSHAL, london,
It is so unfair that Indians around the world fail to acknowledge and accept the global recognition this woman has brought to Bollywood, unlike Shipa Shetty (who ironically is famous for the same reasons she rather mockingly accused Jade Goody of ) Aishwariya Rai is famous for more grander and thankfully credible reasons - I would list them but do we really need to? As for the actress in Aishwariya Rai - Devdas, Hum dil de chuke sanam, Taal, Provoked, Guru (yes this was not her film but i am adding to this list with a view of her role as a supporting actress) etc Yes there are other actresses who have produced more success at the box office however how many of them have been invited to sit on the Cannes Film Festival Jury or join LOreal as a brand ambassador or be invited onto the key american talk shows - there is a reason, stop being cynical and just be learn to be proud of her as an Indian national.
Kanika Kapoor, Delhi, India
Miss Rai is a 'tepid, tawdry, talentless' actress. I do not know what is more shocking; Martyn palmers journalistic ineptitude, or the fact that a national broadsheet has decided to afford so much column inches so a self-obsessed, pompous actress who actually believes the hype that surrounds her.
Aftab, Bolton, England
She is a fantastic individual. I am hook to Bollywood because of her. I saw Provoked in Dubai ( screening)..and she was fantastic! To attain what she has achieved is a fete by itself.. and to maintain it is something else. A beautiful face cannot survive alone all these years without talent and that is a fact. I love you Ash!
Jane, Manila, Philippines
She is such a bad actor!, I wonder if the guy who wrote this article did actually bother to see some of the forgettable films she's been in, because had he done so, I doubt he would even bother to interview this pseudo actress.Most Indian intellectuals and film students think of her as a bimbo and a talentless woman whose beauty is just empty and lacking the sensuality of females with charisma wheather actors or not. I'm fed up of he and her poses
Zulifkar Kamal, Mumbai, India,
Do all Miss Worlds and Beauty of the worlds make good actresses? NO
Aishwarya Rai is a pretty girl but a bad , talentless actress. I've seen a few of her films and her performance is never convincing, the directors usually cast her because of her name and beauty but she is just there, posing, filling the screen...and someone who worked with her in Pride and Prejudice told me she is a real DIVA.
Amita khan, London, uk,
Beautiful & well researched piece.
Well done!
Rai Batra, London, England
Just seen Pride and Prejudice. The worst film ever and the worst actress ever. I guess she is adored by the Indian masses because they need soemone to put a spark in their lifes. Here in India people with a brain think of her as talentless, she is the equivalent of a UK celebrity. Pretty?yes, but so what?
Prasad , Mumbai, India,
You don't provide a new angle to the Rai story; espically that she is a useless actor. Times Online clearly needs better story tellers, and you are not one of them.
Neeraj, Lucknow, India
I think this was a very interesting interview, most of her interviews have always focused on "How does it feel like to be the most beautiful woman in the world?" This interview has shown a degree of clear, structured and interesting views from Aishwriya Rai which is refreshing. I personally think Aishwariya Rai is an interesting association for a second generation indian today.
Smita Singh, Leeds, UK
The question I woild have liked to ask her is whether shebwould still carry on with her career as an actress after marrriage? And I believe it is precisely in relation to Indian women that this issue is important'? It is no secret that she is a better actor and has better prospects on the International scene than her husband . Would the husband react as MOST indian males do than the place of women is at home?
It is a fact that her nere presence on a screen send a spark to the audience. Let us hope that her career spans for a s long as she has the desire to do acting.
Satyajit Boolell, Vacoas, Mauritius