Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is an acclaimed Indian actress and former Miss World (1994). Born on November 1, 1973, she is renowned for her beauty and talent. Aishwarya gained fame with her performances in Bollywood films such as “Devdas,” “Jodhaa Akbar,” and “Guru,” and has also appeared in international projects like “Bride & Prejudice.” Married to actor Abhishek Bachchan, she is part of the influential Bachchan family. Beyond acting, she is involved in various philanthropic activities and has served as a global ambassador for brands like L’Oréal. Aishwarya is a prominent figure in Indian cinema and global entertainment.
Early Life and Background
Aishwarya Rai was born on November 1, 1973, in Mangalore, Karnataka, India, to Krishnaraj Rai, a marine biologist, and Vrinda Rai, a homemaker. She has an elder brother, Aditya Rai, who is an engineer in the merchant navy and has also co-produced one of her films, Dil Ka Rishta (2003). The Rai family moved to Mumbai, where Aishwarya attended Arya Vidya Mandir High School. She later pursued her secondary education at Jai Hind College for a year and then moved to Ruparel College in Matunga to finish her high school studies.
Early Career and Miss World
Aishwarya initially aspired to study medicine but changed her plans and enrolled at Raheja College to study architecture. However, she dropped out to pursue a career in modeling. She started modeling while she was in college, and her first big break came when she appeared in a Pepsi commercial alongside actor Aamir Khan and Mahima Chaudhry. Her beauty and charm made her a household name in India almost overnight.
In 1994, Aishwarya entered the Miss India pageant and secured the second place, behind Sushmita Sen, which qualified her to represent India at the Miss World pageant that same year. On November 19, 1994, Aishwarya Rai was crowned Miss World 1994 at the age of 21. She also won the Miss Photogenic award at the contest. Her victory catapulted her to instant fame and paved the way for a successful career in the entertainment industry.
Acting Career: Early Years
Aishwarya made her acting debut in 1997 with Mani Ratnam’s Tamil film Iruvar, which was a critical success and won several awards, including the Best Film award at the Belgrade International Film Festival. Her performance was highly appreciated, and she was noticed for her acting skills and screen presence.
In the same year, she made her Bollywood debut with the film Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya opposite Bobby Deol. Although the film did not perform well at the box office, Aishwarya’s performance received positive reviews. Her next release was S. Shankar’s Tamil film Jeans (1998), which was a commercial success and became India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars that year.
Breakthrough and Success (1999-2002)
Aishwarya’s breakthrough role came with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), in which she starred opposite Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn. The film was a major commercial and critical success, and Aishwarya’s portrayal of Nandini won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. The film’s success established her as one of the leading actresses in Bollywood.
In 2000, she starred in Josh alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Chandrachur Singh, which was a moderate success. Her next release was Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai opposite Anil Kapoor, for which she received another Filmfare nomination. The same year, she appeared in Aditya Chopra’s Mohabbatein, which was one of the highest-grossing films of the year and earned her critical acclaim.
In 2002, Aishwarya starred in Bhansali’s Devdas, opposite Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit. The film was a grand success and became the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. It was also screened at the Cannes Film Festival and received a special screening at the Oscars. Aishwarya’s performance as Paro was highly praised, earning her another Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
International Recognition and Continued Success (2003-2007)
In 2003, Aishwarya starred in Dil Ka Rishta and Kuch Naa Kaho, both of which failed to perform well at the box office. However, her role in Rituparno Ghosh’s Chokher Bali, an adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s novel, was critically acclaimed. The film was screened at several international film festivals, and Aishwarya’s performance earned her accolades.
Aishwarya continued to achieve international fame when she became the first Indian actress to be a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival in 2003. This milestone solidified her position as a global icon and brought more attention to Indian cinema on the international stage.
In 2004, she appeared in Gurinder Chadha’s British film Bride and Prejudice, which was a modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. The film was moderately successful and received mixed reviews, but Aishwarya’s performance was appreciated.
In 2006, Aishwarya starred in Dhoom 2, alongside Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, and Uday Chopra. The film was a major commercial success and became the highest-grossing Indian film of the year. Her performance as Sunehri, a thief, was widely praised, and she received a Filmfare nomination for Best Actress.
The same year, she appeared in J.P. Dutta’s Umrao Jaan, a remake of the 1981 film of the same name. Although the film did not perform well at the box office, Aishwarya’s portrayal of the titular character was appreciated by critics.
In 2007, Aishwarya starred in Mani Ratnam’s Guru, alongside Abhishek Bachchan. The film was a biographical drama based on the life of Dhirubhai Ambani, and it was a commercial and critical success. Her performance as Sujata, the supportive wife of the protagonist, was highly praised, and she received another Filmfare nomination for Best Actress.
Marriage and Personal Life
Aishwarya Rai married Abhishek Bachchan on April 20, 2007, in a private ceremony in Mumbai. The wedding was a highly publicized event in India, and the couple was dubbed the “super couple” by the media. Aishwarya took a break from acting after her marriage but returned to the screen with renewed vigor.
In 2011, Aishwarya gave birth to her daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan. She took a brief hiatus from acting to focus on her family but continued to make appearances at various events and endorsements.
Resurgence and Recent Work (2010-Present)
Aishwarya made her comeback to acting with the 2010 film Raavan, directed by Mani Ratnam. The film, which also starred Abhishek Bachchan and Vikram, received mixed reviews but Aishwarya’s performance was appreciated.
In 2015, she returned to the big screen with Sanjay Gupta’s Jazbaa, a crime thriller in which she played a lawyer. The film received mixed reviews, but her performance was praised, marking a successful return to Bollywood.
In 2016, Aishwarya starred in Omung Kumar’s biographical drama Sarbjit, in which she portrayed Dalbir Kaur, the sister of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian prisoner who was sentenced to death in Pakistan. Her performance was highly acclaimed, and the film received positive reviews.
The same year, she appeared in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma. The film was a commercial success, and Aishwarya’s performance as Saba, a poetess, was widely appreciated.
In 2018, she starred in Fanney Khan alongside Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao. The film received mixed reviews but Aishwarya’s performance was praised.
Philanthropy and Other Ventures
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is known for her philanthropic efforts. She established the Aishwarya Rai Foundation in 2004 to help needy people in India. She has also been involved in various charitable activities, including supporting eye donation campaigns and working with organizations like Smile Train, which provides free cleft lip and palate surgery to children in need.
In 2003, she was appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). She has been actively involved in spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS and promoting the importance of preventive measures.
Aishwarya has also been a brand ambassador for several international brands, including L’Oréal, Longines, and De Beers. Her association with these brands has further cemented her status as a global icon.
Legacy and Impact
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the world and has often been referred to as the “most beautiful woman in the world” by various media outlets. Her beauty, grace, and acting skills have earned her a massive fan following, both in India and internationally.
She has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including two Filmfare Awards and the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2009. In 2012, she was honored with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government for her contributions to the arts.
Aishwarya’s impact on the film industry extends beyond her acting. She has been instrumental in bringing Indian cinema to the global stage and has played a significant role in changing the perception of Indian actresses in international cinema.