Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

She was crowned Miss India World in 1994 and the same year won the Miss World title. She is the brand ambassador for international brands like Longines watches and L’Oreal. In 2007, Aishwarya became the first Bollywood and Indian actress to have her own statue at London’s Madame Tussauds museum.

Born in Mangalore and brought up in Mumbai, Aishwarya Rai is the daughter of Krishnaraj Rai and Vrinda Rai. She completed her education in Mumbai and pursued architectural studies while modelling part time. She was crowned Miss India World and Miss World, both in 1994. Then, like many of her predecessors, the film industry beckoned this fair damsel. Aishwarya made her debut in Mani Ratnam’s Tamil biopic, Iruvar (1997). The film was a critical and commercial success. Her Bollywood debut came with Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997). However the film failed to create any ripples at the box office. She then starred in S. Shankar’s Tamil film, Jeans, which went on to become India’s official entry to the Oscars for that year.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) was one of the major milestones in her career. Aishwarya’s role won her critical acclaim and accolades from all over. The film was a major success and won her, her first Filmfare award for Best Actress. Her other movie, Taal (1999) received moderate success in India, however was internationally very successful.

She then starred in Josh and Mohabbatein alongside Shah Rukh Khan in 2000. She portrayed the role of Shah Rukh’s childhood sweetheart Paru (Parvati) in Devdas (2002), which was an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s famous novel by the same name. The film became the highest grosser of the year at home and abroad and won her, her second Filmfare award for Best Actress.

The next couple of years were not too great for Aishwarya’s  carreer. Bengali films – Choker Bali (2003) and Raincoat (2004), Dil Ka Rishta (2003), Kuch Naa Kaho (2003), Bride And Prejudice (2004), Khakee (2004), Shabd (2005), The Mistress Of Spices (2004) and Umrao Jaan (2006) did not fare so well at the box office.

The mega blockbuster Dhoom 2 (2006) came as a welcome respite. Guru (2007) got her positive reviews for her character in the film. She also acted in British films, Provoked (2007) and The Last Legion (2007). However, both failed to do well. In 2008, she played the role of Queen Jodha bai in the partly fictionalized epic drama, Jodhaa Akbar which became a commercial and critical success. She acted acted in Sarkar Raj (2008), a sequel to Sarkar (2005). In 2010, she acted in Mani Ratnam’s Raavan. In the same year, she appeared alongside south Indian superstar, Rajnikant in Enthiran, a Tamil movie which was also dubbed in Hindi as Robot. The film went on to become the biggest blockbuster in India ever! She also appeared in Action Replayy (2010) and Guzaarish (2010). Aishwarya was supposed to appear in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Heroine but the project went off following Aishwarya’s pregnancy in May 2011. The role went to Kareena Kapoor later. Aishwarya gave birth to a baby girl on 16 November 2011.