The most beautiful woman in the world was born on 1st November in 1973. We trace her eventful journey through the years.
Aishwarya Rai shot to fame by winning the Miss World contest in 1994. It was not too long before Bollywood beckoned and after debuting down South in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar in 1997, she made an unsuccessful debut opposite Bobby Deol in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya.
Success eluded the beauty till she landed leading roles in showman Subhash Ghai’s Taal and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Both films scored at the box office and propelled Ash to superstardom also winning her the coveted Filmfare trophy.
She became Indian Cinema’s prettiest ghost in Mohabbatein in which she shared screen space with SRK and future father in law Big B.
On the personal front, Ash fell in love with the dashing bad boy of Bollywood, Salman Khan while filming HDDCS. Their turbulent relationship ended in 2002. Khan’s possessiveness and violence are cited as reasons for the split.
In 2002, Ash’s career faced an all time high with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus, Devdas. In the film, Ash matched legendary dancer Madhuri step for step and walked away with a Filmfare trophy. She also made heads turn with her sensuous and uninhibited turn in Rituparno Ghosh’s Chokher Bali and the versatile actress’ sultry item number with SRK called Ishq Kamina from Shakti was well received.
That same year, Ash became brand ambassador for L’Oreal cosmetics and attended the Cannes Film Festival. She was flooded with Hollywood offers and starred in Gurinder Chadha’s Bride and Prejudice. Ash’s appeal was so universal that she was voted ’the most beautiful woman in the world’ and became a force to reckon with. The light eyed dream girl posed for Time’s Magazine and appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and The Late Night Show with David Letterman. Ash has appeared in cross-over films like The Mistress of Spices, Provoked and ’The last Legion’ since then.
Romantically, Ash moved on to newbie Vivek Oberoi who was over the moon regarding his precious find. The ice maiden never acknowledged the relationship and they broke up in 2006 after a confusing 3 year romance.
2005 was a big year for the green-eyed beauty as she seduced both Big B and his baby in the smash hit song Kajraa Re from Bunty aur Babli. The movie has been long forgotten but the song still rules discos, radio and TV channels alike.
Kajraa Re sowed the seed of the Abhi-Ash romance which only strengthened when they shot together for Umrao Jaan, Guru and Dhoom 2.
By the time Dhoom 2 released in November 2006, the Abhi-Ash romance was on in full swing. So her slim, bronzed, mini skirt and bikini avatar in Dhoom 2 and sizzling chemistry and kiss with co-star Hrithik didn’t go down too well with the Bachchans while fans loved their favourite actress’ smoking hot look. Fortunately, Dhoom 2 set the box office on fire and became Ash’s first hit since Devdas in 2002.
2007 was a spectacular year for the ethereal beauty. She got engaged to boyfriend Abhi in Jan, Guru starring her and Abhishek was critically and commercially well received and she tied the knot with the love of her life on Feb 20, 2007 in a private ceremony. The Bachchans couldn’t have asked for a better bahu. ’Abhi-Ash’ have been inseparable since then and make a picture perfect couple.
In 2008, Mrs. Bachchan celebrated her first wedding anniversary and the success of Jodhaa Akbar, an epic starring her and Hrithik Roshan in which her restrained performance and delicate beauty won many hearts.
Soon, it was celebration time again as Sarkar Raj starring the Bachchan parivaar also set the cash registers ringing. Ash gets along with Big B like a house on fire. She is so fond of her Pa (as she lovingly refers to him) that she wants to pen a book on him.
While everyone wants the madly in love couple to go the family way, they are busy with their careers and family responsibilities. Ash will be seen in Raavan, Pink Panther 2 and Robot next.
We wish this dazzling, flawless beauty a very happy 35th birthday and many more joyful years to come.
