Bollywood Buzz tribute to the actress as she celebrates her birthday on November 1As Aishwarya Rai turns 34, we do a quick trace her evolution from a plastic-faced model to an actress of international class. Rai first came into the limelight with her Pepsi ad opposite Aamir Khan. Prahlad Kakkar who had directed that commercial says when she walked into his office, her eyes got his attention. "Intelligent but shy," is how Kakkar describes Ash. He says over the years Ash hasn't changed a bit and her approach towards her work is as professional as can get.
A disastrous debut in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya followed by a series of mediocre films best describe her initial years in Bollywood. Raj Kanwar, who directed her in one of her earlier films Dhai Akshar Prem Ke feels she has grown tremendously as an actress. "From then to working in Pink Panther is no mean achievement," Kanwar says. "She is an extremely inspiring person and spreads a lot of positivity on the sets". Kanwar however feels Bollywood hasn't given Ash her due and there is still a lot of untapped potential in her.
The big turning points in her career where the two Sanjay Bhansali films Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. In fact it was after these two projects that people started taking her seriously as an actress. She did a number of prominent films such as Mohabbatein, Taal and Josh after which she established her position as a star bigger than her box office records.
But when it comes to mass adulation, perhaps nothing will ever match up to Kajra Re. Essentially an item song, her moves created nationwide hysteria as she made her then would be father-in-law and husband dance to her tunes. Kajra Re choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant says "Aishwarya added a certain grace to the number which no other could have matched". She says the song could have easily turned raunchy but Ash's dignity took it to another level.
Vaibhavi who has also choreographed Crazy Kiya Re feels Ash is better with Western dances. "Since she has very athletic, clear movements work better than fluid jhatkas". According to Merchant, Ash has done well for herself in the industry and is at an interesting phase in her career where she will do only select work. Unlike most Vaibhavi feels Bollywood has given Ash her due as she a diverse body of work to her credit.
Dhoom 2 was a big departure for Ash. Having not really 'exposed' as much as some of her contemporaries, her new hot 'n' sexy avatar in the film sent fans over the moon. For designer Anaita Adjania Shroff the biggest challenge was to make Ash get rid of her poise. She says Ash was made to wear a lot of street fashion and her overall body language had to be brash yet seductive unlike most of her other characters. Anaita feels Aishwarya is extremely adaptable to new styles and can carry anything from "ganjis to sarees" well. Shroff says, "as a stylist there is still a lot more that can done with Ash and is perhaps the best person to experiment with new trends".
After a critically acclaimed performance in Guru Aishwarya's next big project is Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar. Despite being another costume drama, as always there is a lot of buzz around her look in the film. In the coming years Rai will be seen in many high profile international projects along with the Bollywood blockbusters that keep coming her way. At 34 she can't exactly play a college sweetheart but knowing Ash this might just be the beginning. Perhaps we ain't seen nothing yet.
Buzz18
A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AISHWARYA!!!!!!
Visit Trend Grafity for daily updated images of art collection
