Ash to receive French honour in Delhi

Tonight, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will make her first public appearance after the announcement of her pregnancy, and it’ll be in Delhi. Ash, 37, along with hubby Abhishek and in-laws Amitabh and Jaya will receive the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.

Tonight, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will make her first public appearance after the announcement of her pregnancy, and it’ll be in Delhi. Ash, 37, along with hubby Abhishek and in-laws Amitabh and Jaya is in the Capital to receive the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) from the French government. Abhishek’s sister Shweta Nanda and her family, Ash’s parents, her brother and sister-in-law will also accompany Ash, who is now in the fifth month of her pregnancy.

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The award, meant to honour her contribution to the world of cinema, was to be conferred in 2008 but she could not receive it then due to her father’s illness. So, she will now receive it on the eve of the National Day of France — July 14.

Aishwarya, who is likely to don a sari for the event, is ecstatic. “This is an occasion for joy and I want to spend it with my entire family ... I’m glad they’ll all be there,” she says. Jérôme Bonnafont, Ambassador of France to India, will give away the award at the Taj Palace Hotel. “A well- known face at the Cannes International Film Festival and the first Indian actress to be among its jury, Mrs Rai Bachchan has woven ties with France that are emblematic of a very special relationship,” he says.

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What’s that order?
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) is an Order of France, established in 1957 for the recognition of significant contributions to arts and literature. Previous Indian recipients of this honour include Sharmila Tagore (1999), Shah Rukh Khan (2007) and Nandita Das (2008).