By Jilawatan
Verve’s undisputed power cover girl, India’s highest paid, most in-demand actor; international face of the country; recipient of a myriad film awards and the big daddy of them all, a Padma Shri, reminds me of a little girl on a Ferris wheel - spinning ever upwards, almost out of control in the frenzy of her life.

Today, she is closeted in her vanity van at N. D. Studio in Karjat with make-up artist, Ojas. She is busy putting on a face, which to me seems so unnecessary!

Earlier, fresh countenanced, tired-eyed but oh so beautiful, she had made flash decisions on gowns (no saris); colours (out with that dull mauve) and silhouettes. The world’s most beautiful woman (so says Julia Roberts!) standing there in black tights and silver-and-white tee, could have slipped into anything and looked like a million bucks.

By Jilawatan
Verve’s undisputed power cover girl, India’s highest paid, most in-demand actor; international face of the country; recipient of a myriad film awards and the big daddy of them all, a Padma Shri, reminds me of a little girl on a Ferris wheel - spinning ever upwards, almost out of control in the frenzy of her life.

Today, she is closeted in her vanity van at N. D. Studio in Karjat with make-up artist, Ojas. She is busy putting on a face, which to me seems so unnecessary!

Earlier, fresh countenanced, tired-eyed but oh so beautiful, she had made flash decisions on gowns (no saris); colours (out with that dull mauve) and silhouettes. The world’s most beautiful woman (so says Julia Roberts!) standing there in black tights and silver-and-white tee, could have slipped into anything and looked like a million bucks.

By Jilawatan

Following her trip to Tinsel Town and the release of ‘Pink Panther 2′, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan is back in Bollywood with a heavy duty call sheet in hand. The actress, who was recently felicitated with the prestigious Padma Shri award in Delhi, is set to resume shooting in Mumbai for Vipul Shah’s ‘Action Replay’.

Meanwhile, she has her hands full with Mani Ratnam’s much awaited ‘Raavan’, opposite her hubby Abhishek. The movie is scheduled to be released in 2010, and is being shot simultaneously in Tamil under the title of ‘Ashokavanam’. Though the cast in the Tamil version differ slightly, the main characters are being essayed by the likes of Vikram, Govinda,Prithviraj Sukumaran, Prabhu Ganesan and Manisha Koirala. It’s being claimed that Raavan/ Ashokavanam is a modern day version of the Ramayana, with Ash as Sita.

By Jilawatan

Last year it was dhak dhak girl Madhuri Dixit-Nene who received the prestigious award Padma Shri from the President of India and now this time around its going to be Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who would be honoured with this award.

Amitabh Bachchan speaks on this eve and feels proud of her bahu Aishwarya

“I would rush to be in time for the President’s Award Ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Aishwarya will be honoured with the Padma Shri. It’s a moment of great pride for all of us.”

Further the legendry actor speaks, “She will become the 5th Padma Award in our household. My Father with the Padma Bhushan the first, then the Padma Shri for me, followed again by the Padma Bhushan to me some years later, Jaya’s Padma Shri and now Aishwarya’s. This must be a record for the country. 5 Padma Awards in one family. God has been very kind to us. The people of this land have been very kind to us. We are humbled and with bended knee and bowed heads acknowledge your affection and care and love.”

Mumbai, January 29: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Akshay Kumar are amidst the Padma Shri award recipients this year for their contributions to the art and cinema.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has definitely been the ‘global’ face of India for the past few years. Not only has she represented Bollywood abroad by working in cross-over cinema with international artists but has also been the brand ambassador of various international cosmetic giants. We are definitely not ignoring the brilliant performances the actor has rendered in Devdas, Provoked, Raincoat, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Guru and the most recent Jodhaa Akbar but its her international fame, addition in international desirability lists of women that grabs our attention the most and why shouldn’t it… after all Ash was called as the ‘most beautiful woman’ in the world by Julia Roberts.

“5 Padma awardees in one family!! God is generous and kind,” says Amitabh Bachchan on his blog.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India. With her being given one of India’s biggest honours, Aishwarya has taken the count of the Padma awards to five in the Bachchan parivaar.

Amitabh’s father, Harvanshrai Bachchan received the Padma Bhushan the first. After that the Big B himself was given two Padma awards – the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan a couple of years later. And soon enough it was time for Jaya Bachchan to make the same walk as her husband and father in law had many years back to get her Padma Shri.

Speaking about his daughter in law’s award, Amitabh Bachchan says, “How do I feel ? How would anyone feel when (their) daughter wins accolade and distinction!”