With superb performances from the lead actors and an excellent director making the decisions ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ set new standards in the craft of movie making in Bollywood.

The grace of this remarkable period film is still lingering on and is spreading its fragrance in far away places.

‘Jodhaa Akbar’ has won the Grand Prix Award at the International Film Festival of Muslim Cinema Golden Minbar in Kazan, Russia.

And adding to the glory is the award for the best actor in the festival that has gone to the best looking Indian actor Hrithik Roshan for his role as the Emperor Akbar.

The B-Town movie shared the honors with an Iranian film ‘M for Mother’.

The jury at the festival selected the final winners from a group consisting of 35 films from around the world.

In compassion and grace be like sun.

In concealing others’ faults, be like night.

In anger and fury be like dead.

In modesty and humility be like earth.

In tolerance be like a sea.

Either exist as you are or be as you look”.

Were these philosophical lines penned for her? Perhaps, she’s worthy getting ennobled of it. A mere persona of beauteous entity, immortal towards the ages… Beauty, Success, Glamour, fame, family, happiness and what else? She has been showered with the best blessings from God. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, ‘World’s Beautiful woman, India’s glamorous face… celebrates her 36th birthday on the first day of November.

Stunningly beautiful Aishwarya RaiAishwarya Rai proved how irresistible she is at a shooting in Goa. The actress had to be safeguarded by 40 odd security guards on the sets of Shankar’s ‘Endhiran’ (previously titled ‘Robot’), as the director was anticipating much of paparazzi.

To ensure that the former Miss World’s shooting goes on smoothly, Shankar hired 40 security guards to prohibit anyone from clicking pictures of the shoot. According to reports, S Shankar, who is directing the big budget Rajinikanth and Aishwarya starrer ‘Endhiran’ became furious when someone leaked the stills of the film’s recent shoot in Peru and splashed it all over the internet.

Shankar, who is known be a perfectionist, didn’t want to take any chances, and therefore he cordoned off the area so that no trespasser could catch a glimpse of what was going on inside. Inside reports suggest that Rajini and Ash’s look in the movie is a close guarded secret and the movie is being touted as Rajini’s biggest blockbuster till date.

As An Actor

Sarkar Raj (June 6, 2008) (Released) …… Anita Rajan

Jodhaa Akbar (February 15, 2008) (Released) …… Jodhaa

Rani Laxmibai (2008) (Announced)

Happy Birthday (2008) (To Go On Floor)

Raaste (2008) (Announced)

Enthiren (2008) (Under Production)

Provoked (April 6, 2007) (Released)

Guru (January 12, 2007) (Released) …… Sujatha

Dhoom 2 (November 24, 2006) (Released) …… Sunheri

Umrao Jaan (November 3, 2006) (Released) …… Umraao Jaan

The Mistress Of Spices (2006) (Released) …… Tilo

The Last Legion (2006) (Under Production)

Saamna (2006)

Bunty Aur Babli (May 27, 2005) (Released) …… Special Appearance

Shabd (February 4, 2005) (Released) …… Antara Vashisth/Tammana

Raincoat (December 24, 2004) (Released) …… Neeru

Balle Balle! From Amritsar To L.A (October 8, 2004) (Released) …… Lalita Bakshi

Kyun! Ho Gaya Na (August 13, 2004) (Released) …… Diya Malhotra

Finally the D-Day is here. Our Chiyaan Vikram’s dream has come true!

He held his first shoot with Aishwarya Rai in the forests of Malayatoor near Kochi in Kerala for Mani Ratnam’s tri-lingual film in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu titled tentatively Ravana in Hindi and Asokavanam in Tamil.

Vikram plays the hero in the Tamil and Telugu version, while he plays a character with shades of black in the Hindi version.

Aishwarya and her husband Abhishek Bachchan who play hero and heroine in the Hindi version, arrived in Kochi on Thursday(Oct 30) morning and straightaway joined the unit.

The Bachchans were late in joining the unit as they were held up in Mumbai, looking after the ailing Amitabh Bachchan who was hospitalised last fortnight. Their entire shooting schedule had gone wrong, and Mani’s film was the worst affected.

Aishwarya Rai is upbeat about her next project, Ravan where she stars along with hubby Abhishek Bachchan.

“It’s a really exciting thought for me and Abhishek to be coming together again with Mani Ratnam. All I can say about the film is that it goes into a completely different theme from Guru,” said Aishwarya, who turns 35 on Saturday.

“You can’t expect Mani sir to go into the same space twice. Working with him is an exciting thought for any actor. The way he connects to his actors is very clear in the films that he makes. He creates magic on screen,” she added.

Aishwarya says Guru, in which she paired with Abhishek, for Mani Ratnam itself, was a very precious experience. “It has been a very precious experience on every level, and not just on a personal level. I’d say it was professionally very fulfilling.”

Robot as Enthiram was known earlier was in news constantly for various reasons. Earlier Shah Rukh Khan was approached to play the lead but he refused due to creative differences with director Shankar. But then Shankar managed to convince the biggest of superstars, Rajnikanth. After some creative hustle and tussle, Robot was renamed as Enthiram.

The film is to be produced by Ayngaran and Eros International. AR Rahman has been roped in for scoring the music. This will be the second film for Aishwarya Rai under Shankar’s direction after ‘Jeans’.

Earlier, in an interview to a news daily, Aishwarya Rai talked in glowing details about the Tamil superstar, “Rajini Sir is such a wonderful human being. He has been so close to the family, too. I am glad and honoured to be working with him.”

Paul Schrader, former scriptwriter to Martin Scorsese, who has written some of Scorsese’s big films like Bringing Out The Dead, The Last Temptation Of Christ, Raging Bull and Taxi Driver revealed this fact about Aishwarya Rai.

“The biggest and probably the only name Hollywood’s top people want to cast from India is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She is the only one who can be cast in the lead with a Hollywood actor. Her beauty appeals even to the Western minds, “ he said.

“Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan and others are well-known in Hollywood, but it is Aishwarya that filmmakers want to cast because she fits the bill completely. She has great screen presence. I can tell you for a fact that big banners are trying very hard to get her dates,” Schrader told After Hours on the sidelines of the 10th Osian’s film festival being held in New Delhi.

Aishwarya Rai, crowned once as the world’s most beautiful woman, has now walked away with another coveted title of having the ’sexiest eyes’ in US TV E!’s Sexiest Body Parts List

Aishwarya’s dazzling eyes have been voted the sultriest, beating the likes of Hollywood superstars Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox and Scarlett Johansson.

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen walked away with the sexiest legs award.

‘Monster’ star Charlize Theron took away E!’s décolletage award with her sultry shoulders. Eva Mendes lovely locks were voted the sexiest.

Taiwanese actress Shu Qi trounced Angelina Jolie for having the sexiest lips. ‘Pearl Harbour’ star Jennifer Garner’s sweet smile emerged victorious among Rachel McAdams and Sienna Miller.

The best bust goes to Scarlett Johansson and best Butt goes to Jessica Biel. Singer Fergie’s flat stomach has been named as the hottest abs.

It reprises the adventures of the bumbling French Cop Inspector Clouseau.. When the legendary Pink Panther diamond is stolen again, the inspector joins an international team of crime busters to solve the case, who are as clumsy as he is. They are on a mission to catch Tornado, a super cat burglar who targets historical artifacts.

The new trailer of “The Pink Panther 2“, reveals a little bit of the comedy movie’s plot and many of the tickling scenes are presented. In the more-than-two-minute video. Steve Martin returns to his comical role as Clouseau. He is joined once again by John Cleese as Chief Inspector Dreyfus, Jean Reno as Gilbert Ponton and Emily Mortimer as Nicole Nuveau, while Andy Garcia and Aishwarya Rai pick up the role as Inspector Vicenzo Brancaleone and Sophie Solandres for the first time respectively.