Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is an Indian actress and model who works mainly in Hindi cinema and also in Tamil films. Fans know her simply as Ash or Aish. She first won fame as Miss World in 1994 and went on to become a household name across India. She is best remembered for Devdas (2002), Jeans (1998) and Guru (2007), and in 2009 India gave her the Padma Shri. Her screen career began in 1997 with the Tamil film Iruvar, directed by Mani Ratnam, and Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya introduced her to Hindi audiences the same year. Jeans (1998) gave her a first big hit. Sanjay Leela Bhansali then cast her in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and Devdas (2002), and both roles brought her the Filmfare award for Best Actress. Mohabbatein (2000), Dhoom 2 (2006), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), Enthiran (2010) and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016) all pulled in huge crowds. She worked with Mani Ratnam again on the two Ponniyin Selvan films in 2022 and 2023. Ash is admired as much for her acting as for her glamour. Reviewers singled out her work in Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000), Chokher Bali (2003), Raincoat (2004) and Guzaarish (2010). Her name also travels abroad. She sat on the Cannes jury in 2003, the first actress from India to do so, and France gave her the Order of Arts and Letters in 2012. She also holds a Filmfare Award South for Jeans.