Stardom isn’t exactly a cakewalk for our celebs. Take the handsome couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan for example. The duo have had a busy year churning one release after the other and now they don’t even have time to take a holiday off for their fourth wedding anniversary!

Abhishek, who is looking forward to the relase of his film Dum Maaro Dum on 22nd April, will be busy promoting the Bipasha Basu, Prateik Babbar and Rana Daggubati starrer. And to add to his cramped dates, he will immediately start shooting for Abbas-Mustan’s Players after DMD with a huge star cast of Sonam Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Bipasha Basu, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Omi Vaidya.

Last year, Abhi had taken Ash to the US on their anniversary. The year before that, the two were busy with Mani Ratnam’s Raavan but had managed to take some time off for themselves. On their first anniversary in 2008, Aishwarya had joined Abhishek in Miami as he was shooting for Dostana with John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra.

But this year, Aishwarya Rai is taking it a bit easy and doesn’t have any projects in hand. We’re sure she can have a nice surprise planned for her hubby on 20th April. Any ideas?

Fans of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai can celebrate. The buzz is that Bollywood’s golden couple plans to appear onscreen together again.

And this time, it would be a romantic comedy by director Rajkumar Santoshi. Santoshi, whose last film was the Katrina-Ranbir starrer Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani, is reportedly planning the comic flick, titled Ladies and Gentlemen with Abhi and Ash.

If all goes well, the film would go on the floors in the second half of this year. This would be the first time the real life couple will try their hands at comedy together. After Mani Ratnam’s Raavan flopped miserably, the couple has been really careful about being cast together. But we learnt that the script narrated by Santoshi appealed to the two stars.

Santoshi was working on Power, but the film got delayed. So he has apparently shifted his energies to this film. Santoshi hasn’t released an official statement on the film, but he has started the groundwork, as he wants Abhi and Ash to give it their best shot.

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai had an eventful 2010 which saw four of her films getting a release. Though Aishwarya didn’t get the kind of box office response that she deserved, she starred in 3 magnum opuses if money is anything to go by.
For instance, she starred in the film ‘Robot’ or ‘Endhiran’ that was the most expensive film made in India. Made at a cost of over Rs 150 crore it paired Aishwarya up with the South Indian Demi-God Rajinikanth. And this film did a staggering business at box office and at some parts (like Chennai) the theatre owners had to run early morning (3 am) shows to meet the sky-high demand. The only glitch is that Aishwarya was basically a candy floss in that film which was basically a Rajinikanth bonanza.
Apart from ‘Robot’, Aishwarya Rai starred in another expensive film in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Raavan.’ ‘Raavan’ was the 2nd most expensive film of the year and was inspired from the Hindu epic ‘Ramayan.’ However, despite all the hype and hoopla, this ‘Raavan’ was beheaded by critics and audience.
Aishwarya also starred in the 3rd most expensive film of 2010 in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Guzaarish.’ Made at a budget of over Rs 50 crore, this film starring Hrithik Roshan and Ash was heavily appreciated by the critics. The film, indeed, was poetically beautiful with a poignant storyline and masterly cinematography. But unfortunately, ‘Guzaarish’ was a dud at the box office.

Bollywood’s golden couple Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan have been bestowed with the recognition of ‘Power Couple’ by the esteemed Stardust magazine. The mega stars got the title recently at the launch of the latest issue of Stardust in Delhi. Abhishek and Aishwarya graced the occasion as they lifted the veil off to reveal their own photos as the cover page.

Buzz up!
Abhishek and Aishwarya tied the nuptial knot around 4 years back on 20th April, 2007. Since then, the two have had an amazing off-screen chemistry and they always look head over heels in love with each other whenever they are spotted together.

The couple is hugely popular amidst the Bollywood movie lovers. They are big stars and have carved out a niche for themselves in the film industry. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan leapt into fame after winning the Miss World pageant in 1994. Since then there has been no looking back as she climbed the ladders of fame via her big ticket to the B-town.

Abhishek Bachchan made his Bollywood debut around 10 years back with Refugee. But over the years, he and Aishwarya have starred in a plethora of films. Though the two look spectacular together off-screen, it is ironic that their on-screen chemistry has been mostly ‘thanda’ (cold).

However, in Mani Ratnam’s Guru they, indeed, looked fabulous together and the camaraderie was extremely great. Abhishek and Aishwarya add star value to the Bachchan family that is led by Amitabh Bachchan considered as one of the greatest actors of all times.

Money, popularity, a sea of fan following, films, endorsements, good looks and repute, they have got it all. Hence, it’s no doubt that Abhi-Ash do deserve the ‘Power Couple’ title.

Now that the year 2010 is over, we can sit back and look at some of the memorable and not-so-memorable flicks that came and went away, some spellbinding us on the way while others failing to live upto our expectations. Two of the most hyped films of the year that flopped at the box office starred Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai. Have a look:

1. Hrithik Roshan: Hrithik Roshan starrer film ‘Kites’ was undoubtedly the most hyped film of the year. Directed by Anurag Basu, it starred the Mexican bombshell Barbara Mori and spawned whispers of a secret romance between Hrithik and the foreign lass. Made with a budget crossing Rs 50 crore, it was a film that was hugely awaited but the sluggish pace of the film, dearth of a good storyline and linguistic barrier dug out a grave for Kites.
2. Aishwarya Rai: Aishwarya Rai starrer film ‘Raavan’ was another flick that had been in the news ever since its making. Besides, it brought the trio of Aishwarya, hubby Abhishek and director Mani Ratnam after their hit ‘Guru’ and expectations were sky high. But alas! Abhishek failed to impress the critics with his portrayal of the ten headed Beera (Raavan) and the daggers were out leading to Raavan’s beheading.

Interestingly, Hrithik and Aishwarya starred together in a later film named ‘Guzaarish’ and that was another flop. But ironically, it was a good film and was hailed by most critics

2010 was a year that saw the maturing audience preferring content over stars. When small-budget films and intellectual scripts saw thumbs up from the public, some over hyped films were bloopers. Here’s a look at 5 disaster films of 2010:
1. Kites: Riding on huge hype and hoopla, ‘Kites’ came bringing in a smouldering chemistry between Greek God Hrithik and the Mexican curry Barbara, but dearth of a good screenplay made the film lick dust at box office. It was one of the biggest duds of 2010.

2. Raavan: Aishwarya Rai teamed up with hubby Abhishek for the umpteenth time but despite being visually opulent, the sluggishness of the film stamped a flop all over director Mani Ratnam. A big disappointment!
3. Veer: Salman Khan took the pen for this one, grew long tresses and mingled history with love to portray the story of a ‘Veer’ warrior. But unfortunately, no audience felt ‘Veer’ enough to watch this one. But, later on, Salman compensated by digging gold with ‘Dabangg’.
4. Guzaarish: Another masterly and poetic work from Sanjay Leela Bhansali and received great accolades from critics. And with Hrithik and Aishwarya (the hit Jodi of Dhoom 2 and Jodhaa Akbar), the film was destined to be a mega hit. However, astonishingly, audience showed no interest in watching this one.
5. Khelein Hum Jee Jaan sey: Acclaimed director Ashutosh Gowariker enlivened the pages of history once again as he dressed up Abhishek Bachchan in the dhoti-kurta of freedom fighter Surya Sen. But the response that it got at the cash counters was colder than mere lukewarm.

When brand endorsement deals get in the way of movies…Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan can’t go to the Venice Film Festival! One would think that an actor’s highest priority is to make movies, but sometimes the stars get too caught up in the lucrative business of promoting products that they forget why they are in this business in the first place!

No time for Venice!
Abhishek and Aishwarya were set to accompany Mani Ratnam to the Venice Film Festival in Italy Monday where the Raavan director received the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award. But instead of tagging along to the beautiful city and pose for photogs on the red carpet, Ash and Abhi had to stay home!
What could possibly be more important for the actors than to support the Raavan director? Well, it’s pretty simple actually, yet quite sad for the B-town royalties. One of the Venice Film Festival’s sponsors is a global watch company and a direct competitor to Omega and Longines, the watch brands that Ash and Abhi endorse.

So no trip to the Venice Film Festival for Abhi and Ash! Mani Ratnam’s Raavan has been described as a ‘modern take’ on the Indian epic Ramayana that tells the story of Rama and his wife Sita who is abducted by the demon Rākshasa king of Lanka, Ravana. The movie also stars Vikram, Govinda, Ravi Kishan, Nikhil Dwivedi and Priyamani. Abhishek plays Beera Munda, Aishwarya Ragini, Vikram Dev Pratap Sharma, Govinda portrays Sanjeevani Kumar, Ravi Kishan plays Sid and Priyamani Serena Munda.
What a shame that the film’s stars couldn’t come to Italy with Ratnam to receive the award! “Yes Abhishek and Aishwarya won’t be able to accompany Mani Sir to Venice because of their brand loyalty,” Mani Ratnam’s spokesperson told reporters. Maybe this will serve as an eye-opener for some Bollywood actors who will realize that it’s about movies, not money! What do you think? Share your thoughts.

Bollywood couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan won’t be able to attend the screening of their film Raavan at the upcoming 67th Venice Film Festival, due to prior commitments with their brand endorsements.

Raavanan and Raavan – the Tamil and the Hindi versions of the Mani Ratnam film – and Anurag Kashyap’s That Girl In Yellow Boots will be screened at the festival, starting Wednesday.

“Aishwarya and Abhishek are not going for the Venice Film Festival as reported in some media outlets. The festival falls on the same dates on which they have previously committed. Aishwarya is going for an event for Longines (as she is the brand ambassador), while Abhishek will be busy with a shoot for Omega in Italy,” said a source close to the actors.

“There are other film festivals too – Doha and Pusan – where Abhishek and Aishwarya are being invited, to showcase their film or even for individual honours. But the duo will decide which ones to attend according to their schedules,” added the source.

I was reluctant to take up films because I could not think of giving up my studies. I was doing my architecture course when Mani Ratnam approached me for Bombay, Dharmesh Darshan for Raja Hindustani and Subhash Ghai for Shikhar. I met Shekhar Kapur, who was doing Bandit Queen then and he had told me “Go get your degree but you are coming right here. I have done my CA but I am making movies now!” Yash Chopra used to tease me that I can design my sets when I come back from the pageant but he will make me an actor some day.
Everybody believed I would be here. I did not because nobody in my family or far off family is remotely connected to films.
I took up the Miss World pageant for a lark. I would see girls crying backstage when they were not selected or did not win anything. They were biased about me. They even held a morcha against me because everyone working for the pageant knew me well as a model. I did not know how to handle all this. I felt like an outcast because the participants would ignore me. I had not done anything that I had to be embarrassed about. I was a normal 18-year-old.
Once I won the title, I started thinking on a serious note. I never wanted to be perceived as a pretty thing. I wanted to be someone with more meaning. For me it was not about being on covers of magazines and getting adulation and a fan base. I wasn’t excited over dressing up. I wanted to break the convention that a pretty face can’t act. I was here for the craft as well and have the credibility of an actor.
I didn’t have a conventional launch. I took up Mani Ratnam’s offer for the Tamil film Iruvar not because I was not getting breaks but I wanted to break the myth. I got to play two different roles and the film was not all about me but I still chose to do it. Every director who met me after that told me on the first day that “We don’t want to do something that is Aishwarya Rai” and I would say “What does it mean to be Aishwarya Rai on screen?”
I am not new to criticism. It started with the girls at the pageant, then this preconception that a pretty face cannot emote and when I slowly dispelled all these notions, there was Cannes. Nothing prepared me ever for that kind of backlash. I went to Cannes for the first time as part of the Devdas team. And I was criticised for my choice of clothing at the festival and this continued for years on end. Initially it hurt me. Today I would be lying if I say it does not affect me at all. I am very sensitive like all creative actors are and so it hurts that someone out there is waiting for you to fall.
People who criticize me do not realise that I am not going into my wardrobe and pulling out my dresses. I do not have time to look into my cupboard because I am just running about my work. Professionals who are extremely well-known are dressing me up.
My family has stood by me through all this. They’ve helped me ignore the criticism and keep my focus on my work. My family has always stood by me and asked me to ignore it.
Negativity does hurt you but it hurts me lesser today. I have so much work to do and you work your best so that you are appreciated. We are entertainers and that is what we are here for. I have managed to grow stronger emotionally and truly recognise that there is a lot more positivity, which is much more relevant.
As told to Shama Bhagat

There were hundreds of stories floating on how cinematographer-cum-filmmaker Rajeev Menon, who made Kandukondein Kandukondein with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Tabu, and Sapne with Kajol, was supposedly doing an Abhimaan kind of a flick with Ash and hubby Abhishek.

It is now being rumoured that though Rajeev was in queue before filmmaker Mani Ratnam, who used the Ash-Abhi combo for Raavan, the superstar couple gave Mani preference over Rajeev.

But now it’s said that after the debacle of Raavan, the Rajeev film may not take off because the trade would much rather see Aishwarya romance other heroes, and Abhishek serenade Katrina or Kareena.