\nLondon-based Indian filmmaker Jagmohan Mundhra, who directed the actress in the critically acclaimed English movie \u201cProvoked\u201d, also credits her as a superstar with an international appeal. \u201cShe is a superstar. Not only is she a recognised name worldwide; she is a totally bankable star. My personal experience with her from \u2018Provoked\u2019 says that the film wouldn\u2019t have worked without her. \u201cThe best thing about her is that despite her stature, she is completely a director\u2019s actor. She would also give her inputs in the character and would never come back to see a shot once the director approves it. She is thoroughly professional,\u201d Mundhra added.
\nAishwarya, now married to Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, was born in Mangalore to Krishnaraj Rai, a marine biologist, and Vrinda Rai, a writer.
\nAfter winning the Miss World crown in 1994, Aishwarya took to acting in 1997 with a Tamil film \u201cIruvar\u201d opposite southern superstar Mohanlal and made her Bollywood debut in the same year opposite Bobby Deol in \u201cAur Pyaar Ho Gaya\u201d. Both films bombed.
\nIn the following year, she won her first Filmfare Best Actress award South for the Tamil film \u201cJeans\u201d but became an overnight star with Sanjay Leela Bhansali\u2019s \u201cHum Dil De Chuke Sanam\u201d in 1999. She bagged the Filmfare Best Actress award for this too.
\nIn 2000, she gave a power packed performance in Subhash Ghai\u2019s \u201cTaal\u201d but followed it up with a string of flops like \u201cHamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai\u201d(2000), \u201cDhai Akshar Prem Ke\u201d(2000), \u201cAlbela\u201d (2001), \u201cHum Kisise Kum Nahi\u201d(2001) and many more. In between, she was recognised for her supporting role in Yash Chopra\u2019s 2000 hit \u201cMohabbatein\u201d. Her career was resurrected in 2002 with Bhansali\u2019s \u201cDevdas\u201d fetching her another Filmfare award in the Best Actress category. She was highly appreciated for her performances in \u201cChokher Bali\u201d(2002), \u201cRaincoat\u201d (2004), \u201cGuru\u201d(2006), \u201cDhoom 2\u201d (2006), \u201cProvoked\u201d(2007), \u201cJodhaa Akbar\u201d (2008) and \u201cSarkar Raj\u201d (2008).
\nIn her career spanning 11 years, Aishwarya has acted in over 40 movies in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and English. Her English projects included \u201cBride & Prejudice\u201d (2003), \u201cMistress of Spices\u201d (2005), and \u201cThe Last Legion\u201d (2007). She is also starring in another international project \u201cPink Panther 2\u201d, a sequel to the original comedy. The beauty queen-turned-actress is also counted among the 100 most beautiful women in the world.
\nActress Priyanka Chopra feels that \u201cAishwarya has a perfect face\u201d. \u201cShe is a gorgeous lady, a very elegant person and a great representative of India abroad and I think she has made some great cinema recently. I\u2019d like to watch a lot more of her in films,\u201d Priyanka told IANS.
\nAfter her wedding in April last year, Aishwarya has cut down on her projects and has become very choosy too. But critic Adarsh feels it is only due to her \u201cadded family responsibilities\u201d. Currently, the actress is busy shooting with Abhishek in Kochi for Mani Ratnam\u2019s forthcoming film tentatively titled \u201cRaavan\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"