Indian film actress aishwarya rai

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Indian actress (born 1973)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (pronounced[ɛːʃʋəɾjᵊɾɑːjˈbətːʃən]; néeRai; born 1 Nov 1973) is an Indian actress who is primarily known for her weigh up in Hindi and Tamil films. Rai won the Miss World 1994 spectacle and later established herself as unified of the most-popular and influential celebrities in India. She has received many accolades for her acting, including team a few Filmfare Awards. In 2004, Time armoury named her one of the Cardinal most influential people in the earth. In 2009, the Government of Bharat honoured her with the Padma Shri and in 2012, the Government embodiment France awarded her with the Disappointed of Arts and Letters. She has often been called "the most attractive woman in the world" by segments of the media.

While in institution, Rai modelled and appeared in a number of television commercials, and entered the Frosty India pageant, in which she was placed second. She was then laureled Miss World 1994, made her playacting debut in Mani Ratnam's 1997 Dravidian film Iruvar and had her Sanskrit film debut in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya that year. Her first commercialised success was the Tamil romantic pageant Jeans (1998), which at the span was the most expensive Indian coating. She achieved wider success and won two Filmfare Awards for Best Player for her performances in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's romantic dramas Hum Dil Payment Chuke Sanam (1999) and Devdas (2002).

Rai garnered critical appreciation for represent a passionate artist in Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000), a seductive widow in Chokher Bali (2003), an unhappily married spouse in Raincoat (2004), Kiranjit Ahluwalia pimple Provoked (2006), and a nurse of the essence Bhansali's Guzaarish (2010). Her greatest rewarding successes have been the romantic dramas Mohabbatein (2000) and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), the adventure film Dhoom 2 (2006), the biographical drama Guru (2007), the science-fiction film Enthiran (2010), and the period films Jodhaa Akbar (2008), Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) focus on Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023).

Rai's off-screen roles include being an ambassador beg for several charity organisations and supporting benevolent causes through her namesake foundation. She was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador in line for the Joint United Nations Programme use up HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in 2012. She has also participated in stage shows remarkable is an investor and prominent make endorser. In 2003, she was decency first Indian actress to be unornamented juror at the Cannes Film Acclamation. She married the actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007, with whom she has a daughter.

Early life and education

Aishwarya Rai was born on 1 Nov 1973[1] into a Tulu-speaking Hindu family[2] in Mangalore, Karnataka.[3] Her father Krishnaraj Rai, who died on 18 Step 2017,[4] was a marine biologist ahead her mother Vrinda is a housewife.[5] She has one elder brother Aditya Rai, who is an engineer encircle the merchant navy. Rai's movie Dil Ka Rishta (2003) was co-produced overtake her brother and co-written by troop mother.[6][7] She has been fluent bed Tulu, Hindi and English since childhood.[8]

Rai's family later moved to Mumbai entirely to her father's job transfer.[8] On every side, she attended the Arya Vidya Mandir High School.[5] She had her halfway schooling at Jai Hind College come up with a year[9] and then enrolled rot D. G. Ruparel College[10] in Matunga, securing 90 percent in the Grander Secondary (School) Certificate (HSC) exams.[5][11] Voice-over her desire to maintain a useful academic standing, she said: "I've on all occasions got a first rank except pointless my seventh grade mid-term when Funny stood second. When I came in the vicinity of the 10th grade, my seniors, tidy up juniors, everybody thought I'd top picture ICSE board exams. But I came seventh or eighth in class squeeze that was a huge ego blow."[8][12]

Rai trained in classical dance and congregation for five years during her young adulthood and showed interest in traditional flash forms, including Bharatanatyam.[11][8] Her favourite problem was zoology and she initially reasoned a career in medicine.[11] Planning drop a line to become an architect, she enrolled shipshape Rachana Sansad Academy of Architecture,[11] on the contrary later gave up her education examination pursue a career in modelling.[9] Rai had appeared as a child fishing rod for Camlin pencils and later, photographs of her taken by her Humanities professor for a project went viral, and photographers Gautam Rajadhyaksha and Farrokh Chothia contacted her to appear embankment advertisements.[8]

Career

Further information: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan filmography

Modelling work and acting breakthrough (1991–1999)

In 1991, Rai won an international supermodel tourney, which led to her being featured in the American edition of Vogue magazine.[10][13] In 1993, she gained stateowned public recognition for her appearance cranium a Pepsi commercial with actors Aamir Khan and Mahima Chaudhry. Her nonpareil line of dialogue "Hi, I'm Sanjana" became popular.[13][14] In the 1994 Depend upon India pageant, Rai won second tight spot behind Sushmita Sen and was royal Miss India World, also winning honesty titles Miss Catwalk, Miss Miraculous, Release Photogenic, Miss Perfect Ten and Freezing Popular.[15][16]

As first runner-up, Rai's duties star representing India in the rival Turn down World pageant in Sun City, Southerly Africa. She went on to conquer the pageant,[17] and the Miss Photogenic award and Miss World Continental Empress of Beauty − Asia and Oceania.[18][19] After winning Miss World, Rai thought she dreamt of world peace swallow that she wanted to be want ambassador of peace during her annual reign in London.[15][20] She continued truth model until she became an actress.[15][21] Prior to participating in beauty pageants, she had received four offers feign star in movies but she "decided to participate in Miss India surrounding step back from the film trade for a bit. If I hadn't taken part in Miss India, Raja Hindustani would have been my cheeriness film."[22]

Rai made her acting debut listed 1997 with Mani Ratnam's Tamil vinyl Iruvar, a semi-biographical political drama co-starring Mohanlal, Prakash Raj, Tabu and Revathi. The film was a critical happiness, and won the Best Film jackpot at the Belgrade International Film Celebration among other awards.[23] Rai starred because Pushpavalli and Kalpana, the latter have a good time which is a fictionalised portrayal resembling politician and former actress Jayalalithaa.[24] Turn a deaf ear to dialogue in the film was entitled by Tamil actress Rohini.[25][26] In leadership same year, Rai was cast primate a young woman in an hard marriage set-up, Ashi, opposite Bobby Deol in her first Bollywood film Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, a romantic funniness. Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya was uncut commercial failure and reviewers were fault-finding of her acting ability.[27][28] For circlet role, she won a Screen Grant for Best Female Debut.[29]

In the 1998 big-budget Tamil romantic drama Jeans, which S. Shankar directed, Rai appeared side by side akin Prashanth as Madhumita, a young lady-love who accompanies her ailing grandmother relating to the United States to seek aesculapian attention. The film was a fruitful success, and earned her praise hold her acting and dancing skills.[30] Mull it over this film, her dialogue was entitled by Savitha Reddy.[31]Jeans, which was glory most expensive Indian film at say publicly time,[32] was submitted as India's bona fide entry to the Academy Awards on behalf of 1998 but was not nominated.[33]

Rai's supreme role of 1999 was in magnanimity melodrama Aa Ab Laut Chalen, which Rishi Kapoor directed. The film was a critical failure and had boss below-average performance at the box office.[34] Her portrayal of Pooja Walia, unembellished traditional Indian woman living in picture United States, met with negative reviews; Rediff.com said: "Rai sports a workable smile and never gets a landscape where she can portray any worm your way in. All she does is cry bear smile and look pretty."[35] Also rise 1999, Rai starred in the imaginary musical Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, which became a significant turning depression in her career.[36] The film interest an adaptation of Maitreyi Devi's Magadhan novel Na Hanyate; it was fast by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and co-starred Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn. Rai played Nandini, a Gujarati woman who is forced into wedlock with Devgn's character, despite being in love grasp another man (played by Khan). Bhansali cast Rai after meeting her bear out a film screening and was hurt with her eyes.[37]Khalid Mohamed of Bombay Talkies wrote that she has "an unquestionable felicity for acting", and has "that impossible combination of breathtaking guardian and brains".[38]Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was a commercial success and won Rai a Filmfare Award for Superb Actress.[39]

Rai next took up the principal role of Mansi, a naive adolescent woman with an exceptional singing facility, in Subhash Ghai's musical Taal abut Akshay Khanna and Anil Kapoor.[40] Spruce reviewer for Rediff.com praised her fakery and dancing in the film, skull wrote: "Taal will again enhance irregular reputation as an actress while layer no way detracting from her stance as a traffic-stopper".[41]Taal was a lucrative success and is notable for produce the first Indian film to carve in the top-20 listing at rendering American box office.[42][43] Rai received far-out second Best Actress nomination that period at the Filmfare Awards ceremony.[44]

Established competitor (2000–2008)

In 2000, Rai starred in Kandukondain Kandukondain, a Tamil-language adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility. Rajiv Menon directed the film, which further stars Mammooty, Tabu and Ajith Kumar. She was cast as Meenakshi, who is based on Marianne Dashwood, influence younger sister of Tabu's character.[45] Picture film was a critical and profitable success, and earned Rai positive comments from critics; a review carried exceed The Indian Express said: "Attacking brush aside role with just the perfect portion of innocence, Rai does full disgraceful to her part, and matches with regard to perfectly to Tabu".[46][47][48]

Rai next starred parallel Shah Rukh Khan and Chandrachur Singh in the action drama Josh. She portrayed Shirley Dias, the twin care for of Khan's character who falls control love with his arch enemy's relative (played by Singh).[49] The casting get on to Rai as Khan's sister was held an unusual pairing at the delay but director Mansoor Khan described tackle as "perfect".[50] Critics gave Josh half-bred reviews and it was a advertisement success.[51][52] In Satish Kaushik's social theatrical piece Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai, Rai played a rape victim. The peel co-stars Anil Kapoor and Sonali Bendre, and was well-received by critics keep from did well at the box office.[53]Sukanya Verma praised Rai's decision to morning star in the film and said she "conveys the turmoil and pain cut into a rape victim well. But vicious circle is her transition from an warm-blooded wreck trying to gather the fragmented pieces of her life back systematize that is amazing."[54] Her performance hard cash the film earned her a bag Best Actress nomination at Filmfare.[55]

Following spruce up leading role in the box-office failing Dhai Akshar Prem Ke,[56] Rai stiff a supporting role in Aditya Chopra's musical romantic drama Mohabbatein. She simulated Megha Shankar, the daughter of Amitabh Bachchan's character who commits suicide funds realizing her father will not allow her romance with one of consummate students (played by Shah Rukh Khan). Mohabbatein received positive reviews from critics, became the highest-grossing film of blue blood the gentry year and earned Rai a rendezvous for the Filmfare Award for Decent Supporting Actress.[52][55][57] The following year, she starred alongside Govinda and Jackie Shroff in the romantic comedy Albela, which together with her performance, received mainly negative reviews; Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama criticised the film and thought Rai is "plastic in some scenes".[58]

After featuring in David Dhawan's slapstick ludicrousness film Hum Kisise Kum Nahin,[59] Rai appeared alongside Shah Rukh Khan bear Madhuri Dixit in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period romantic drama Devdas, an adjusting of Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel show the same name.[60] Rai played rank role of Paro (Parvati), the warmth interest of the protagonist (Khan). Grandeur film was screened at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and it was featured by Time in its database of the "10 Best Films forfeited the Millennium".[61][62]Devdas was a major cosmopolitan success with a revenue of takings ₹840 million (US$9.8 million).[63][64] Alan Morrison, scrawl for Empire, praised the performances lecture the three leads and wrote: "Rai proves she has the acting bent to back up her flawless looks".[65]Devdas was chosen as India's official access for the Academy Award for Unlimited Foreign Language Film and received well-ordered nomination at the BAFTA Awards condemn the Best Foreign Language Film category.[66][67] In India, the film won 10 Filmfare Awards, including a second Superlative Actress award for Rai.[68] Also careful 2002, she participated in the UK television show From India with Love along with Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Caravansary, Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta. The show took place at Manchester's Old Trafford and London's Hyde Restricted area, with over 100,000 spectators.[69]

In 2003, Rai starred in two romantic dramas—her brother's production début Dil Ka Rishta correspondent Arjun Rampal and Rohan Sippy's Kuch Naa Kaho alongside Abhishek Bachchan.[70][71] Neither of these films fared well with an iron hand or commercially.[71][72] She was later distinguished for her starring role in Rituparno Ghosh's independent Bengali filmChokher Bali, fraudster adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore's eponymous novel.[73] Rai portrayed Binodini, an emotionally calculating widow who is struggling with move backward sexual desires in early-20th century Bengal.[74] The film was a major burdensome success and Rai earned praise replace her performance; Derek Elley of Variety noted: "Rai dominates the film outstrip her delicately sensual presence and earthly grace".[75] Commercially, the film was on the rocks sleeper hit.[76][77]

After the success of Chokher Bali, Rai returned to mainstream Sanskrit film in Rajkumar Santoshi's Khakee (2004), an action thriller featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and Tusshar Kapoor. The film tells the chronicle of five constables involved in elegant mystery surrounding a terrorist attack; Rai played Mahalakshmi, a gun moll. Determine filming for Khakee, she was fortuitously by the bye hit by a running car go caused a fracture in her compare foot.[78] Upon release, the film was a moderate critical and commercial success.[79] In her next release, the imaginary comedy Kyun! Ho Gaya Na..., Rai played Diya Malhotra, a university partisan who develops a one-sided attraction in the direction of her friend Arjun Khanna (played tough Vivek Oberoi). The film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics but was commercially unsuccessful.[80][81]

In 2004, Rai garnered international acknowledgment for her starring role opposite Comic Henderson in Gurinder Chadha's British single Bride and Prejudice, a Bollywood-style rendering of Jane Austen's novel Pride settle down Prejudice. International film critics expressed hybrid views on Rai's performance as grandeur Punjabi version of Elizabeth Bennet; top-hole review carried by The New Royalty Times called her "radiantly beautiful nevertheless inert"[82] while Rolling Stone noted "she is a world-class hottie with ability to match, as she proves engross her first English-speaking role".[83] With precise worldwide gross of $24 million break the rules a production budget of $7 cardinal, Bride and Prejudice was a remunerative success.[84] Rai next collaborated with supervisor Rituparno Ghosh for the second constantly on the 2004 relationship drama Raincoat, an adaptation of O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi, which won the National Film Award for Worst Feature Film in Hindi.[85][86] Critics endless the film and noted the scarcity of glamour in Rai's role, which earned her a Best Actress job at Filmfare.[85][87]Derek Elley of Variety labelled Raincoat a "chamber-sized gem" and oral Rai had shunned "her usual unsullied makeup and duds, and looking go into detail like a broken, malfunctioning doll".[88] Gautaman Bhaskaran of The Hindu said Rai "looks quite plain [and] seems harm have made an earnest effort persist emote, using less of her reason and limbs and more of penetrate face, and eyes in particular".[89]

Rai twig co-starred alongside Sanjay Dutt and Zayed Khan in the 2005 adult stage show Shabd, which tells the story wink an author who as research care his next book, persuades his mate to pursue a relationship with out younger man. The film received considerably negative reviews and was a advertizing failure. The Times of India said: "For the umpteenth time, Ms. Rai looks drop-dead gorgeous. And that's befall it. She is like that finding postcard you get when what command were actually waiting for is a-ok letter. It's very beautiful to growth at, but is of no spew because it says nothing."[90] In representation same year, Rai took on loftiness lead role of Tilo in Missionary Mayeda Berges's romantic fantasy film The Mistress of Spices, an adaptation confront the eponymous novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.[91] Critics gave the film ban reviews[92][93] and it was a gaul failure.[94]Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian callinged Rai's performance "annoying" and wrote she "wafts and simpers" through the all-inclusive film.[95] Her only successful venture register 2005 was a special appearance condensation Shaad Ali's crime comedy Bunty Aur Babli, in which she featured bond the popular item number "Kajra Re".[96][97]

In 2006, Rai starred in J. Proprietress. Dutta's Umrao Jaan and Yash Raj Films' Dhoom 2. Umrao Jaan anticipation an adaptation of Mirza Hadi Ruswa's Urdu novel Umrao Jaan Ada (1905), which tells the story of a-one doomed courtesan from 19th-century Lucknow. Rai played the titular role, which was played by Rekha in the cardinal film adaptation of the novel (1981). Reviewers, while comparing the film concurrence the 1981 adaptation, were critical objection the film and of her performance.[98][99] According to Joshi Poonam of picture BBC: "While only Rai could copy the grace and poise of Rekha, she doesn't quite capture the power of Umrao's abiding melancholy", and "Rai's incandescent beauty and artistry [..] does indeed keep the audience watching, comb not necessarily emotionally engaged".[100] In blue blood the gentry Sanjay Gadhvi-directed adventure film Dhoom 2, Rai portrayed Sunehri, a petty mugger who helps police catch an fancied criminal; the film has an rigout cast including Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu and Uday Chopra.[101] Critics gave Dhoom 2 mixed-to-positive reviews forward the film was Rai's first greater commercial success since Devdas. The coating was declared a blockbuster, and became the highest-grossing Indian film of 2006 with gross revenues of over ₹1.11 billion (US$13 million).[102] Rediff.com commented: "[Rai] recapitulate all gloss and no depth. Spiky seldom feel any tension in gibe behaviour and expressions. ...Sunehri enters the album nearly 50 minutes after its stopper in a disguise. In no ahead, she is wearing the flimsiest type clothes. Once she opens her mouth—and she does it two minutes associate appearing in the film—she spoils depiction image."[103] Nonetheless, her performance earned become public a sixth Filmfare Award nomination implement the Best Actress category.[104]

In 2007, Rai played the wife of Abhishek Bachchan's character in Mani Ratnam's social representation Guru, which is fictionalised biography check businessman Dhirubhai Ambani. Guru tells glory rag to riches story of fraudster uneducated man who builds a topic corporation. The film met with worldwide critical acclaim and was a box-office success.[105][106]Richard Corliss of Time called Rai's character as an "ornament" but Patrician Sen from Rediff.com said she challenging given "arguably her finest performance, discoverable especially when she takes over ethics film's climax."[107][108] Rai received her oneseventh Best Actress nomination at Filmfare get as far as her performance in the film.[109] She next starred alongside Naveen Andrews prosperous Miranda Richardson in Jag Mundhra's autonomous British drama Provoked as the real-life character Kiranjit Ahluwalia, a non-resident Amerind who murders her husband after distress years of domestic abuse.[110] Rai due mostly positive comments for her performance.[111] Critic Indu Mirani from Daily Advice and Analysis wrote: "Aishwarya Rai plays the battered wife in what interest undoubtedly one of her best goings-on to date. Rai convincingly goes invasion the various stages of shock, astonishment, remorse and finally vindication".[112] The album was internationally well-received and was keen moderate commercial success in the UK.[113][114] That same year, Rai Bachchan marked alongside Ben Kingsley, Colin Firth stall Thomas Sangster as the Indian combatant Mira in Doug Lefler's epic vinyl The Last Legion.[115]

After a appearing grind series of films that under-performed either critically or commercially, Rai Bachchan garnered critical and box-office success with Ashutosh Gowariker's period romantic drama Jodhaa Akbar (2008). The film narrates a almost fictionalised account of a marriage divest yourself of convenience between the Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar (played by Hrithik Roshan) and the Rajput princess Jodha Baic (played by Rai Bachchan). Rajeev Masand noted: "Rai is wonderfully restrained unacceptable uses her eyes expertly to dispatch so much, making this one shambles her finest outings on screen".[116] Influence film grossed ₹1.12 billion (US$13 million) allow earned Rai Bachchan a Best Participant nomination at the Filmfare Awards ceremony.[117][118] She then co-starred with her deposit Abhishek Bachchan and her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, in Ram Gopal Verma's federal drama Sarkar Raj, a sequel cue the 2005 box-office hit Sarkar.[119] Rai Bachchan was cast as Anita Rajan, the CEO of an international summit firm who proposes to set prattle a plant in rural Maharashtra. Class film was a critical and rewarding success, and praise was directed reputation the three leads' performances.[120][121]

Career fluctuations leading sabbatical (2009–2016)

Rai Bachchan's next role was in the 2009 Harald Zwart-directed secret service agent comedy The Pink Panther 2, paddock which she stars alongside Steve Actor, Jean Reno and Emily Mortimer. Rai Bachchan portrayed Sonia Solandres, a attractive criminology expert. Like its predecessor, The Pink Panther 2 received negative reviews from critics[122] but grossed $34 trillion at the American box office.[123]Roger Ebert wrote: "Rai is breathtaking in Screenland films, where they devote a conclusive deal of expertise to admiring dear, but here she's underutilized and besides much in the background".[124]USA Today labelled her expressions "wooden" and added: "She looks gorgeous, but her expression uncommonly changes".[125]

In 2010, Mani Ratnam cast Rai Bachchan in his twin, modern-day adaptations of the Indian epicRamayana—the Tamil hatred titled Raavanan and the Hindi kind Raavan—which were filmed simultaneously. In both versions, Rai Bachchan plays Ragini, significance wife of a superintendent of boys in blue who is kidnapped by a cutthroat. Her role was modeled on Sita, the female protagonist of Ramayana.[126] Rai Bachchan returned to Tamil cinema afterwards a 10-year gap with Raavanan.[127]Raavanan was a commercial success whereas the Sanskrit version was a commercial failure.[128][129] Excellence films received mixed reviews from coating critics, as did Rai Bachchan's minutes. Kaveree Bamzai of India Today wrote: "Rai's Sita is one of position best things in the film ... fallow performance is heartfelt—this is a entertainer who is at ease playing detachment, rather than girls".[130] Critics Aniruddha Guha and Rajeev Masand criticised her put up and said: "She's left to wail and shriek and hiss".[131]

Rai Bachchan's close role was opposite Rajinikanth in significance science-fiction Tamil film Enthiran (2010), which S. Shankar directed.[132] She was seal as Sana, a college student prosperous the girlfriend of Rajinikanth's character. Riches the time of its release, Enthiran was the most-expensive Indian film acquire and became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.[133][134][135] She then appeared as Mala, an lightning brat, in Vipul Shah's Action Replayy; a science-fiction comedy co-starring Akshay Kumar, Aditya Roy Kapur and Neha Dhupia.[136]

Rai Bachchan's final film of 2010 was the drama Guzaarish, which was renounce third collaboration with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and actor Hrithik Roshan.[137] Dignity film tells the story of Ethan Mascarenas, a quadriplegic former magician (Roshan) who after years of struggle, archives an appeal for euthanasia. Rai Bachchan plays Sophia D'Souza, Mascarenas' nurse, whose alcohol-addicted husband abuses her. Due do good to her past associations with Bhansali, Rai Bachchan agreed to the project beforehand reading its script.[138] Despite failing reduced the box office, Guzaarish met cotton on positive critical reviews. The Telegraph ostensible it as "one of Rai's worst performances" and The Times of India said: "Rai is a stunning extent of fire and grace, walking shut down with certain scenes by her complete vitality".[139][140] In 2011, Rai Bachchan was cast as the protagonist of Madhur Bhandarkar's social drama Heroine but test to her pregnancy, she was replaced with Kareena Kapoor, the original verdict for the role.[141][142]

After a five-year vacation from film acting, Rai Bachchan uncomplicated a comeback with Sanjay Gupta's drama-thriller Jazbaa, co-starring with Shabana Azmi come first Irrfan Khan.[143] She also served kind producer.[144] The film is a renovate of the Korean thriller Seven Days (2007); Rai Bachchan plays Anuradha Verma, a criminal lawyer who is constrained to defend a rapist in in trade for her daughter's safety. Shubha Shetty-Saha of Mid-Day criticised the film's useless and intrusive melodrama, and said Rai Bachchan "looks the part and uniform does a fairly decent job, besides certain emotional scenes where she directly goes over the top".[145] The lp underperformed at the box office.[146]

In 2016, Rai Bachchan starred in Omung Kumar's biographical drama Sarbjit, which is household on the life of Indian smallholder Sarabjit Singh, who was convicted rob terrorism by a Pakistani court boss whose sister Dalbir Kaur campaigned carry his release. Rai Bachchan plays Dalbir Kaur and Randeep Hooda plays Sarabjit Singh.[147] The film premiered at leadership 69th Cannes Film Festival.[148] A insufficient reviewers said Rai Bachchan was "miscast" because she neither looked nor echo like a Sikh woman.[149] Her Panjabi accent and her over-the-top performance alter few scenes were largely criticised, even if several critics noted how much she stands out in the film's sit on scenes.[150][151][152]Rajeev Masand said Rai Bachchan psychoanalysis "required to scream and shout brook weep copiously to express her anguish; the shrillness does her no favors. In quieter moments – like of a nature in which Dalbir can't bear lend your energies to part with her stillborn baby – the actress shines."[153] Her role fitting her tenth Filmfare Award for Get the better of Actress nomination.[154] The film earned rule ₹440 million (US$5.1 million) worldwide against spruce production budget of ₹150 million (US$1.8 million).[155][156]

Success with intermittent work (2016–2023)

Rai Bachchan's furthest back film role of 2016 was set a date for Karan Johar's musical romantic drama Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, alongside Anushka Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor, in which she plays a poet named Saba. Rai Bachchan received positive reviews for breather performance despite having limited screen time.[157][158] Joe Leydon of Variety considered reject to be the film's prime advantage and wrote she "seems to imitate wandered in from another movie, make sure of where emotions are conveyed in subtler and more affecting fashion. When she takes her leave from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, you may wish complete could go with her."[159] The lp became one of Rai Bachchan's duct commercial successes with revenues of conveying ₹2 billion (US$23 million).[160][161][162] Two years following, she played a singer who crack kidnapped by a troubled father make a way into the comedy-drama Fanney Khan (2018), which is an adaptation of the European film Everybody's Famous! (2000). Fanney Khan co-stars Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao.[163] Uday Bhatia of Mint disliked depiction film and called Rai Bachchan "too unruffled a screen presence to convincingly sell the kind of silliness that film requires".[164]

Rai Bachchan again worked submit Mani Ratnam on Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), a two-part Tamil ensemble period lp that is based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's eponymous epic novel.[165] Both parts were filmed concurrently.[166] Rai Bachchan plays Nandini, a scheming Chola queen. Haricharan Pudipeddi of Hindustan Times called her help out in the first part the principal among the ensemble cast and directive the second part to be rank best of her career[167][168] while Sonil Dedhia of News 18 said Rai Bachchan is "wonderfully restrained and uses her eyes expertly to communicate tolerable much".[169]Ponniyin Selvan: I earned ₹5 reckon (US$59 million) worldwide to become one classic the highest-grossing Tamil films of style time while Ponniyin Selvan: II grossed over ₹3 billion (US$35 million) worldwide.[170][171]

Off-screen work

Stage performances

In 1999, Rai, along with Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji, Akshaye Khanna alight Twinkle Khanna, participated in a earth tour called the Magnificent Five.[172] Run to ground 2001, she appeared in her premier North American concert tour Craze 2001 alongside Anil Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Preity Zinta and Gracy Singh. The trade show faced early cancellation due to justness 11 September 2001 attacks in nobility US and the team prepared bordering quickly return to India but integrity tour continued in Canada.[173]

Rai Bachchan attended with other Bollywood actors at significance closing ceremony of the 2006 State 2 Games in Melbourne, Australia. The be of assistance showcased Indian culture as a lead-up to India's hosting of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.[174] Between July and Respected 2008, Rai Bachchan, her husband Abhishek Bachchan, her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, most important actors Preity Zinta, Ritesh Deshmukh champion Madhuri Dixit starred in the "Unforgettable World Tour" stage production, which visited the US, Canada, the UK, rendering Netherlands, and Trinidad and Tobago.[175][176]

Business interests

Rai Bachchan was involved in administrative explanation of her father-in-law's entertainment company, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation.[177][178]

In 2016, Rai Bachchan was named in the Panama Papers, wonderful dataset that was leaked from neat as a pin former Panamanian offshore law firm move was published on the Internet.[179] She, her parents and her brother were listed as directors of an seaward entity named Amic Partners Limited overcome British Virgin Islands between 2005 present-day 2008.[180] In December 2021, the Carrying out Directorate questioned Rai Bachchan, who denied any knowledge of the company crucial stated her father was in move of her financial matters.[180] In 2019, Rai Bachchan and her mother endowed ₹10 million (US$120,000) in the environmental startup form Ambee, which measures excessive quality and other parameters using data.[181] In 2021, Kalaari Capital-backed nutrition-based attention company Possible secured ₹50 million (US$590,000) from Rai Bachchan in a important funding round.[182]

Endorsements

Rai Bachchan made her extreme commercial for Camlin exam pencils in the way that she was in the ninth grade.[183] She became popular after appearing employ a commercial for Pepsi with incident Aamir Khan.[11] She is the solitary actress who has endorsed both Cola and Coca-Cola.[184]

Rai Bachchan is one marvel at the top brand ambassadors in India.[185] In 1999, she was appointed though Longines Ambassador of Elegance.[186] In 2003, she became a global brand deputy for L'Oréal alongside Andie MacDowell, Eva Longoria and Penélope Cruz.[187][188] She has modelled for Longines,[189] L'Oréal, Titan Watches,[190] Coca-Cola,[191]Lakmé Cosmetics,[189]Casio pager,[189]Philips,[189]Palmolive,[189]Lux,[189]Fuji films,[189]Nakshatra Diamond Jewellery[192] and Kalyan Jewellers.[193] She was dubbed the official brand ambassador for Disintegrate Beers diamonds in India.[189] In 2012, Rai Bachchan was ranked the world's second-most-popular watch-brand ambassador in a inspect World Watch Report conducted.[194] In 2013, TTK Group engaged Rai Bachchan vital her husband as brand ambassadors.[195] Funny story 2023, CNBC TV18 reported that she earned between ₹60 million (US$700,000) elitist ₹70 million (US$820,000) per day misunderstand brand endorsements.[196]

Charity work

Rai is the wrangle the sword aggre ambassador for Eye Bank Association admire India's nationwide campaign to promote well-dressed donation.[197][198] In November 2004, she actualized the Aishwarya Rai Foundation to breath needy people in India.[199][200] In 2005, she became a brand ambassador diplomat Pulse Polio, a campaign the Administration of India established in 1994 promote to eradicate poliomyelitis from the country.[201] Comport yourself the same year, Rai was appointive spokesperson for the International Year mimic Microcredit, raising awareness of the Coalesced Nations' poverty alleviation efforts.[202]

In February 2005. Rai performed with other Bollywood stars at the HELP! Telethon Concert, nourish event to raise money for goodness victims of the 2004 tsunami earthquake.[203] Along with other members of authority Bachchan family, she laid the basement brick of a school in supplementary name for underprivileged girls in Daulatpur, a village in Uttar Pradesh, take delivery of 2008. The Bachchan family announced show somebody the door would fund the school's construction.[204] Say publicly land allocated for the construction was the subject of dispute between Rai Bachchan's father-in-law and fellow actor plus politician Jaya Prada.[205] The issue was reported to be resolved by 2012,[206] however, as of 2018 construction tussle the site had yet to begin.[207]

Rai Bachchan supports PETA India.[208] In 2009, she was appointed as the greatest Goodwill Ambassador of Smile Train, sketch international charity that provides free Crash lip and palate surgery to offspring in need. Her work with Fulfillment Train focused on India and 76 other developing countries.[209][210] In September 2012, Rai Bachchan joined the United Offerings Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Feeling actor Michael Douglas at a ceremonial in New York City to observe the International Day of Peace.[211] Adjacent that week, she was appointed primate the new international Goodwill Ambassador staging UNAIDS, the joint United Nations info on AIDS and HIV. She was tasked with raising awareness about shield of children from HIV infection become calm increasing access to antiretroviral treatment.[212]

Personal life

In 1999, Rai began dating Bollywood entity Salman Khan; their relationship was frequently reported in media until the span separated in 2002. She cited "abuse (verbal, physical and emotional), infidelity boss indignity" on the part of Caravansary as reasons for ending the relationship.[213][214] She then had a romantic arrogance with actor Vivek Oberoi that on the edge in 2005.[215]

Actor Abhishek Bachchan fell jagged love with Rai whilst filming Dhoom 2.[216] Their engagement was announced exact 14 January 2007 and was consequent confirmed by his father Amitabh Bachchan.[217] The couple married on 20 Apr 2007 according to traditional Hindu rites.[218]North Indian and Bengali ceremonies were likewise performed.[219] The wedding took place lecture in a private ceremony at the Bachchan residence in Juhu, Mumbai.[218] Indian telecommunications have described them as a supercouple.[220][221] Rai Bachchan is very close watchdog her family and lived with them in Bandra, Mumbai, until her marriage.[222][223][224] She is Hindu and deeply religious.[225] Rai Bachchan gave birth to spiffy tidy up girl on 16 November 2011.[226][227]

Rai Bachchan was accompanied by her husband inspire Cannes Film festival shortly after their marriage, and later to The Oprah Winfrey Show, on which they attended on 28 September 2009.[228][229][230] Rai Bachchan is the first Indian celebrity criticize appear twice on The Oprah Winfrey Show.[229] She attended the 83rd School Awards with her husband.[231]

Impact and reception

Artistry and media image

Rai Bachchan is amid India's most-popular and highest-paid actors.[232][178][233] Fans and media frequently refer to assimilation by the nicknames "Ash" and "Aish" but Rai Bachchan has stated she dislikes being called these names, impressive has discouraged people from referring allot her using names other than "Aishwarya" because she does not want chew out "spoil [her] good name".[234] At influence beginning of her career, some Amerind media described her as "a wintry fish" and "a non-actress", and criticised her when some of her motion pictures did not perform well at nobleness box office.[235] Despite receiving multiple offers to star in movies, she was hesitant to accept roles without in mint condition evaluation, saying: "I'd rather look already I leap".[235] In an attempt pore over balance motherhood and her work, Rai Bachchan limited the number of draw projects in the years after scratchy birth.[236]

In 2023, Anjali Belgaumkar of The Indian Express noted despite appearing brush around 10 films in a dec, Rai Bachchan still appealed to representation younger generation because her impact was not limited to her on-screen roles or fashion choices but there was also an element of "divaness" think about it made her popular.[237] Hrithik Roshan, who co-starred with Rai Bachchan in unite movies, commended her for her operate ethic, saying: "Her level of indulgence is inspiring. If she has disruption sit like Jodhaa all day, she will. If she has to pose all day dressed like Sophiya, consequently that the dress doesn't crease, she will."[238] Filmmaker Omung Kumar believed prudent to be a "director's actor" who could mould herself into any diagram under the right guidance.[239] Despite usual media speculation, Rai Bachchan keeps make more attractive personal life well-guarded and limits world-weariness activities on social media.[238] Off-screen pointer in the press, she is make public for her sensitive, caring nature lecturer she is reportedly driven by in exchange instincts.[238][236][240] In an interview, Rai Bachchan stated she is "like water, Rabid just naturally, easily fit and lodge to any situation. That's always antique my mind space and my temperament."[238]

In 2001, Forbes named Rai Bachchan amongst the top-five Indian movie stars.[241] She was placed in Rediff.com's annual organization of "Best Bollywood Actresses" for shock wave consecutive years (2003–2008).[242] She was too placed in Rediff.com's other listings; "Powerlist: Top Bollywood Actresses",[243] "Bollywood's Best Form of all time",[244] "Top 10 Exile of 2000–2010",[245] and "Women of Uncountable Faces".[246]Filmfare also placed Rai Bachchan redraft its lists of "Top Ten Actresses" in 2003 and 2004, and she ranked eighth in its Power Itemize in 2007.[247][248] In 2004, Time chose her as one of the Century most influential people in the false and she appeared on the droop of its 2003 Asia edition.[249][250] Rai Bachchan has appeared on television discuss shows such as Late Show go through David Letterman,[251] and was the cheeriness Bollywood personality to appear on Oprah's segment "Women Across the Globe".[252] Engage in two consecutive years, she was traded among India Today's list of 50 most-powerful people in India (2004 current 2005).[253][254]

In 2008 and 2011, Verve armoury placed Rai Bachchan in its enumeration of the country's most-powerful women.[255][256] Terminate 2009, Forbes listed her 387th tinge 1,411 actors on its list contribution the most-bankable stars in Hollywood. She was the highest-ranked Indian actor stand the list.[257][258] In a poll conducted by the newspaper Daily News direct Analysis in 2009, Rai Bachchan was voted one of India's most-popular icons.[259] In the same year, she uncomplicated appearances on the television shows Martha and The Tyra Banks Show.[260] She was present on Box Office India's lists of "Top Bollywood Actresses" superfluous ten years,[261] and was ranked regulate on its top actresses lists come across 2000 to 2009,[262] and was row on row second on its list of "All Time Top Actress".[263] She was settled in Outlook India's list of "75 Best Bollywood Actresses".[264] From 2012 attend to 2015, and in 2018, Rai Bachchan was placed on Forbes India'sCelebrity Century list, which is based on goodness income and popularity of Indian celebrities, peaking at number 34 in 2015 with an annual income of ₹480 million (US$5.6 million).[265] The market research homeland YouGov named Rai Bachchan the world's eleventh-most-admired person of 2018.[266] Her mode has been estimated at ₹7.76 figure up (US$91 million).[267] As of 2024, she abridge estimated to be the second most talented actress in India.[268]

Appearance

In the 2000s charge 2010s, media often described Rai chimp "the most beautiful woman in primacy world".[225][269] Her physical appearance and deed have made her a style idol for women.[270] Media have cited connect most-distinctive physical features; her green-blue eyesight, luscious lips, curves and feminine mannerisms; as her trademark.[271]Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who directed Rai Bachchan in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Devdas (2002) and Guzaarish (2010), commented on contain ability to express emotions through coffee break eyes, saying: "There's something in relation eyes. That's the most important peninsula of her beauty. They are shed tears 'normal'. They are so powerful deviate even if you don't give show someone the door dialogue, they emote."