Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is one of the best-known actresses in the Indian cinema industry. She was born on November 1, 1973, in Mangalore, Karnataka, India, to Krishnaraj Rai and Vrinda Rai. Her father was an Army scientist, while her mother was a housewife. Aishwarya has one older brother, Aditya Rai, who is an engineer in the merchant navy.
Education and Early Life
Aishwarya finished her studies at Arya Vidya Mandir High School in Mumbai. She was a good student and excelled in academics as well as extracurricular activities. She was a skilled classical dancer and was also excellent in sports like volleyball, basketball, and badminton. After finishing her studies, she enrolled at Jai Hind College in Mumbai to pursue a degree in architecture. However, she withdrew from college after a year to concentrate on her modelling career.
Career in Modelling
Aishwarya began her career as a model at the age of 18. She competed in many modelling competitions and won multiple titles, including the Ford Supermodel Contest and the Miss India pageant in 1994. She subsequently went on to represent India in the Miss World pageant, where she won the title, becoming the second Indian woman to do so after Reita Faria in 1966.
After winning the Miss World title, Aishwarya became a highly sought-after model and was featured in several print and television advertisements for different businesses. She has appeared on the covers of various prominent publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and Elle.
Career in Films
Aishwarya made her acting debut in the 1997 Tamil film “Iruvar,” directed by Mani Ratnam. The film gained critical praise, and Aishwarya’s performance was well acclaimed. She subsequently made her Bollywood debut in the 1997 film “Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya,” alongside Bobby Deol. Although the film did not fare well at the box office, Aishwarya’s performance was acclaimed by the reviewers.
In 1998, Aishwarya featured in the romance drama “Jeans,” directed by Shankar. The film was a financial success and awarded Aishwarya her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress in Tamil. She later acted in other popular films, including “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” (1999), “Taal” (1999), and “Devdas” (2002).
Aishwarya’s performance in “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” was especially appreciated, and she received her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her performance in “Devdas” was likewise greatly liked and earned her critical accolades. The film was India’s official submission to the Academy Awards that year.
In 2004, Aishwarya was featured in the film “Raincoat,” directed by Rituparno Ghosh. The film was highly appreciated and received multiple prizes at international film festivals. Aishwarya’s performance was widely applauded, and she earned the Best Actress award at the Cairo International Film Festival.
In 2005, Aishwarya was featured in the film “Bride and Prejudice,” directed by Gurinder Chadha. The film was a Bollywood-style rendition of Jane Austen’s classic “Pride and Prejudice” and was well-received by the public. Aishwarya’s performance was lauded, and she was nominated for the Best Actress award at the British Independent Film Awards.
In 2006, Aishwarya was featured in the film “Dhoom 2,” directed by Sanjay Gadhvi. The film was a financial success and awarded Aishwarya her third Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She later acted in other hit films, including “Guru” (2007), “Jodhaa Akbar” (2008), and “Guzaarish” (2010).
Aishwarya’s performance in “Guru” was widely lauded, and she received her fourth Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her portrayal in “Jodhaa Akbar” was similarly appreciated, and she received the Best Actress award at the Screen Awards that year.
In 2010, Aishwarya featured in the film “Raavan,” directed by Mani Ratnam. The film garnered mixed reviews, although Aishwarya’s performance was acclaimed. She then starred in the film “Guzaarish,” directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film gained critical praise, and Aishwarya’s performance was well acclaimed.
In 2015, Aishwarya made her return to filmmaking after a five-year sabbatical with the film “Jazbaa,” directed by Sanjay Gupta. The film garnered mixed reviews, although Aishwarya’s performance was acclaimed. She then starred in the film “Sarbjit” (2016), directed by Omung Kumar. The film was based on the story of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian citizen who was convicted of terrorism and espionage by a Pakistani court. Aishwarya’s performance was greatly applauded and earned her multiple honours.
In 2018, Aishwarya featured in the film “Fanney Khan,” directed by Atul Manjrekar. The film garnered mixed reviews, although Aishwarya’s performance was acclaimed.
Personal Life
Aishwarya was in a relationship with actor Salman Khan in the late 1990s. However, the romance ended on a poor note, and Aishwarya accused Salman of physical and mental abuse. She later began dating actor Vivek Oberoi, but the relationship did not last long.
In 2007, Aishwarya married actor Abhishek Bachchan, whom she had met on the sets of the film “Guru.” The couple has a daughter called Aaradhya, who was born in 2011.
Philanthropy and humanitarian work
Aishwarya has been active in various charitable and humanitarian projects. She has been an ambassador for the United Nations’ Global Partnership for Children’s Health and Education since 2005. She has also been active with groups including the Eye Bank Association of India, the Smile Train, and the L’Oreal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science.
Aishwarya has also been actively engaged in the battle against HIV/AIDS. She has worked with UNAIDS and the International AIDS Conference and has been a spokeswoman for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) since 2012.
Awards and honours
Aishwarya has received various honours for her performances in films. She has won four Filmfare Awards for Best Actress and has been nominated for the honour countless times. She has also received numerous additional prizes, including the National Film Award for Best Actress, the Screen Award for Best Actress, and the IIFA Award for Best Actress.
In 2009, Aishwarya was given the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honour in India, by the Government of India for her services to the arts. She was also designated the Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in 2012.
Conclusion
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been one of the most successful actresses in the Indian cinema business. She has received various honours for her performances and has been actively engaged in charitable and humanitarian initiatives. Her path from a model to a famous actor is an inspiration to many. With her ability and determination, Aishwarya has established a space for herself in the film business and has become a household name in India and beyond.