Woman of the Year: Aishwarya Rai

She's the woman people love to hate. Reason? She is the epitome of beauty and success. She has been blessed with good looks, a brain that she uses, elegant decorum, and the art of saying the right things at the right time. She is a successful actor, what with hits like Guru and the critically acclaimed Jodhaa Akbar under her belt. And there's more. She is now a part of the Bachchan household. Daughter-in-law to Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, and wife to Abhishek Bachchan, Mrs. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan occupies an enviable position today.

And that's why most tend to whish her off. They comment on her 'plastic face', her 'irritating giggling-syndrome', her 'much practiced behaviour', her 'boring diplomacy', and mock her when she is in the company of her in-laws and hubby playing the family woman to the hilt. However, it's for all the above mentioned reasons that we intend to salute Aishwarya today – on Woman's Day. We call her the Balancer, for she balances her professional life with her personal so beautifully. And we swear, that every woman who despises her does so because somewhere deep inside she knows that she can never get there, and every man who claims that she isn't the woman, does so because he can't have her, and because she is beyond 'realism', too perfect to be true.

She refuses to be dragged into controversies. She let's her 'rivals' and 'contemporaries' do all the talking – for or against her – while she quietly performs her duties as an actor and a homemaker conscientiously with panache, grit and dedication. And for all this and more, Aishwarya needs to be applauded.

She has shone more than any other actor (female) in the year gone by. 2007 opened to a 'good house' with Mani Ratnam's Guru receiving critical claim. While Abhishek played the unintended role of Dhirubhai role to the hilt in the film, Ash did well as his 'supporting actor'- literally and figuratively speaking.

Jag Mundhra's Provoked also provoked the critics to right a good word or two about the talented actor. Ash, with these two roles, proved that she could do more than just look good. Sans external embellishments, she ornamented the screen with worthy performances.

Then came the big fat Indian wedding. Undeterred Aishwarya did the most daring thing an Indian actor can do. On April 20, she tied the knot, not caring for the repurcussions marriage can have on a flourishing career, especially in India. While most actors (female) entered the state of oblivion soon after becoming Missus , Ash continues to act and makes her presence felt, unlike many others, whose absence from the big screen doesn't hurt too much.

The girl was then in the news for having been roped in to play a to-die-for role in Ram Gopal Verma's Sarkar Raj , her international project Pink Panther , and then of course the introduction of her wax statue at Madame Tussauds in Times Square, New York in September 2007.

To add to her success as an actor, and to pay a tribute to her beauty, Ben Kingsley roped in Ash to play his ladylove Mumtaz Mahal in his production venture Taj Mahal . The film will be shot in Fatehpur Sikri and Agra sometime this year.

And just as we thought that the year couldn't get better, and a woman can't do more than this, the Bachchan family performed yet another wonder. Amitabh Bachchan laid the foundation of a girl's college in the name of Aishwarya Rai. The college will be located in Barabaki, Uttar Pradesh.

Phew...More recently Ash outshone in Jodhaa Akbar as the strong and exquisite Jodhaa... who Akbar would be absolutely incomplete without. As we end this article with a salutation to Aishwarya the complete actor, homemaker, individual...a woman of substance who stands tall and stands her own...with much grace and dignity!

With Her Husband

Biography

Aishwarya Rai Biography :

Aishwarya Rai also known as Ash, is an Indian actress. She was awarded the Miss World title in 1994. Aishwarya Rai has acted in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali and English films. She is currently regarded as one of the biggest names in Bollywood. Aishwarya Rai was born in Mangalore, in the South Indian state of Karnataka, to Krishnaraj Rai, a marine engineer, and Vrinda Rai, a writer. She studied in Hyderabad until 7th grade. Her family later relocated to Mumbai. Rai has one brother, Aditya Rai, who is three years older. Aditya is in the merchant navy, and has also co-produced a film with Rai in the lead. Her native language is Tulu; she also speaks Hindi, Marathi, English, Kannada, and Tamil. She is Hindu. She attended the Arya Vidya Mandir at Santacruz, then entered Ruparel College, Matunga, Bombay. She was an A student and was on track to become an architect. Rai began modeling on the side while studying architecture. She was a contestant in the Miss India 1994 pageant, which she lost to Sushmita Sen but later went on to compete for the Miss World title and won.
Rai began dating Salman Khan, her co-star from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, after the filming of that movie. Their breakup a few years later generated a substantial amount of press attention. Rai dated her co-star Vivek Oberoi in the past. Recently, much media attention has focused on Aishwarya's alleged romantic involvement with fellow Bollywood celebrity Abhishek Bachchan. Recently, she was spotted with Abhishek Bachchan at Kasi Vishwanath temple.A practicing Hindu, she has described herself as having "immense faith in God". She is a devotee of Lord Ganesh and when at home she attends the Siddhivinayak Mandir. Rai lives in Mumbai with her parents.

Aishwarya Rai Awards and Honours :

Popular Awards:
2006: Namaste India's Song of The Year- Crazy Kiya Re
2006: Indiatimes Number 5 In Sexiest Bollywood Stars Poll
2005: Zee Cine Critic’s Best Actress Award, Raincoat
2005: IIFA’s Global Indian Media Personality
2003: Zee Cine True Indian Beauty Award
2003: Zee Cine Best Actress Award, Devdas
2003: Screen Jodi No.1 Award with Shahrukh Khan
2003: Screen Best Actress Award, Devdas
2003: Filmfare Best Actress Award, Devdas
2003: Sansui Best Actress Award, Devdas
2003: IIFA Best Actress Award, Devdas
2003: Bollywood Awards Best Actress, Devdas
2000: Screen Videocon Best Actress Award, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
2000: Filmfare Best Actress Award, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
2000: Stardust Millennium Best Actress Award, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
2000: Zee Lux Face of the Year
2000: Zee Cine Best Actress Award, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
2000: IIFA Best Actress Award , Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
2000: Zee Gold Best Actress Award in Sensational Role, Taal
2000: Zee Gold Best Critics Actress Award, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
2000: Zee Gold Best Actress Award, Taal
1998: Screen Most Promising Newcomer, Aur Pyar Ho Gaya
1998: Screen Discovery of the Year
1998: Filmfare Best Actress Award South, Jeans