By Jilawatan

Though Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor are, currently, ruling the B-town with right doses of glamour and talent, it is the veteran Aishwarya Rai who defeats them comprehensively when it comes to global popularity.

Unlike the likes of Kareena and Priyanka, Aishwarya is renowned worldwide (after all, she had won the coveted pageant at the Miss World). Aishwarya’s global supremacy also accounts from the fact that she has worked in a slew of crossover films like ‘Pink Panther 2’, ‘The Last Legion’, ‘Bride and Prejudice’ and so on.
Reportedly, a few foreign publishers are insisting Aishwarya to pen her autobiography. In fact, they are ready to pay out handsome fee to her. As per reports, she has also been approached with a blank cheque by a publisher itching to print her journey from her modelling days to her Bollywood crown.
Publishers are also eyeing that she dishes out her relationship tales in the autobiography. In fact, Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi controversies are significant parts of her life and would make her books fly off the shelf in a jiffy.
But then Aishwarya being a very private person is brooding over it. She hasn’t yet given her nod and even if she does so, it is highly unlikely that she would serve her readers a dose of her spicy romance. But the publishers can still keep their fingers crossed.

By Jilawatan

Reputed fashion magazine Elle has dabbled in controversy over race after seemingly lightening the colour of Aishwarya Rai’s skin on the cover page of its recent issue. Aishwarya Rai, who is the leading Bollywood actress, adorns the cover page of the December issue of Elle Magazine India and apparently Aishwarya’s skin looks a lot lighter.
Fans of Aishwarya have raised a protest against the magazine alleging racial abuse. The magazine has tried to give out an impression that pale skin is preferable to darker skin and this has got a section of the people outraged.
Apart from the cover page, Aishwarya also appears pallid and a couple of shades lighter in a slew of photos that are sprawled inside the mag. It is believed that the magazine has bleached her complexion; something that is not going down well with her herd of fans.
Readers are taking a dig at Elle with most of them feeling outright annoyed at such an abominable act. One of the fans slams Elle citing, “It’s annoying because it seems like lighter skin is always in fashion as if darker skin is something to be frowned upon.”

By Jilawatan

Bollywood babe Aishwarya Rai Bachchan turned down an opportunity to act alongside internationally acclaimed actor Brad Pitt. We have seen Aishwarya in Hollywood flicks such as Pink Panther 2 and The Last Legion. So why was this H-town project not good enough for the famous beauty? Aishwarya Rai Bachchan told reporters that she is currently tied up with her Bollywood projects. The actress assured media that she was not rejecting the film and it was just a time issue. Ash discussed how her hectic B-town schedule doesn’t leave her time to do justice to any Hollywood projects that come her way.

By Jilawatan

After making her presence felt in Hollywood studios with films like ‘Bride and Prejudice’, ‘Mistress of Spice’, ‘Provoked’, ‘The Last Legion’ and ‘Pink Panther 2’, ex-Miss World and Bollywood’s reigning queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is all set to clinch a movie deal with Hollywood actor Russell Crowe.

According to the latest news, Aishwarya, who is gracing the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, will soon be seen in another Hollywood project.

Talking to a news daily, a source said, “Russell was with his wife Danielle Spencer and they bonded well with Ash. Word is that they also discussed the possibility of doing a film together and both parties were very keen. It would be a great star cast to have for any movie as it would see the best of both industries coming together.”

It is hugely believed that Hollywood A-list stars like Eva Longoria-Parker and Elizabeth Banks have been inspired by B-town’s light-eyed beauty Aishwarya.

By Jilawatan

Often called the most beautiful woman in the world, Aishwarya Rai arrived on the scene in 1994, when she won the runner’s up title at the Miss India pageant and went on to win the Miss World crown. In 1997, she made her movie debut with Mani Ratnam’s Tamil film ‘Iruvar’. Her performance in 1999′s ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ earned Aishwarya critical and commercial acclaim. She also met Salman Khan while on one of those typical SLB “pallu-catches-fire” routines, and gave the media some spicy Page 3 fodder.

In 2001, Aishwarya broke up with Salman and, according (only) to Vivek Oberoi, entered an interim orbit with him.

By Jilawatan

Rai made her film debut in the 1997 Indian film, Iruvar. Over the next seven years, the actress’ talent and piercing looks grabbed international attention.

In Bend it Like Beckham’s Gurinder Chadha musical ode to Jane Austen and Bollywood — Bride and Prejudice — Rai secured her place as an intercontinental, intensely powerful actress.

As Steve Martin and his Pink Panther series moves past Beyonce, they have found a gem in Indian megastar Aishwarya Rai.SheKnows: Aishwarya, first off, how was working with Steve Martin versus the expectations of what you thought it would be like working with Steve Martin?

Aishwarya Rai: I never expect anything. I prefer to meet a person face to face and take it from there. Steve was warm and generous to work with. He is a true master at his craft — with such ease he became Inspector Jacques Clouseau. Steve was great fun!

By Jilawatan

She may no longer be the the face of brands like Coca-Cola and Nakshatra diamond jewellery in India, but Aishwarya Rai is still riding high on successful and long-standing international endorsements.

Aishwarya has completed nearly a decade of endorsing Swiss luxury watch brand Longines and international soap Lux. She has also been the brand ambassador of global haircare brand L’Oreal since 2003.

Noted ad-man Prahlad Kakkar says Aishwarya is sought by well-known brands because she is more than just an actress and is often perceived as an ambassador of India. “Aishwarya was never a big or major endorser of Indian products.

She has an impressive list of international brands to her name and that’s because she is not just an actress who can be judged on hits and flops, but the fact that she is a representative of the Indian woman and is an ambassador of the country,” Kakkar, who made her famous as Sanju in a 1993 TV commercial for Pepsi, told IANS on phone from Mumbai.

By Jilawatan

She may no longer be the the face of brands like Coca-Cola and Nakshatra diamond jewellery in India, but Aishwarya Rai is still riding high on successful and long-standing international endorsements.

Aishwarya has completed nearly a decade of endorsing Swiss luxury watch brand Longines and international soap Lux. She has also been the brand ambassador of global haircare brand L’Oreal since 2003.

Noted ad-man Prahlad Kakkar says Aishwarya is sought by well-known brands because she is more than just an actress and is often perceived as an ambassador of India. “Aishwarya was never a big or major endorser of Indian products.

She has an impressive list of international brands to her name and that’s because she is not just an actress who can be judged on hits and flops, but the fact that she is a representative of the Indian woman and is an ambassador of the country,” Kakkar, who made her famous as Sanju in a 1993 TV commercial for Pepsi, told IANS on phone from Mumbai.

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

The lukewarm response to her recent Hollywood release Pink Panther-II has had Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (35) conceding her position as the most popular face of Bollywood.

In the West to the new international craze 24-year-old Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), who according to reliable sources has been signed for two films — one with Woody Allen and the second with Julian Schnabel.

Freida, who is said to have earned over two million pounds, overtaking Bollywood beauties like Aishwarya, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif is also, according to a world film distributor, being wooed to walk the red carpet at Cannes in May 2009.

On the Bollywood front, Kareena Kapoor (28) has nudged Aishwarya Rai Bachchan out of the Filmfare Top-10 Power list.

But a producer from Chennai confirms that Ash is still the highest paid Indian heroine and has reportedly been paid a fee of Rs six crore for Shankar’s Robot, where she is cast opposite Rajnikant.