Happy birthday Aishwarya Rai: Here’s when the actor’s name echoed in the corridors of Hollywood | Bollywood - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Happy birthday Aishwarya Rai: Here’s when the actor’s name echoed in the corridors of Hollywood

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
Nov 01, 2020 07:26 AM IST

Aishwarya Rai has not just proved her mettle in Bollywood but is also a name to reckon with in Hollywood. While she has featured in quite a few successful films, she has also turned down multiple opportunities to work Brad Pitt and Will Smith.

Aishwarya Rai turns 47 this year and continues to remain an epitome of beauty and grace. The former Miss World is not just a noted Bollywood actor but is a known name in Hollywood as well. Besides being one of the most-talked about celebrities on the Cannes red carpet every year, Aishwarya also has quite a few Hollywood films as well to talk about.

Aishwarya Rai during one of her Cannes appearances.
Aishwarya Rai during one of her Cannes appearances.

Here are some of the films the actor starred in or could have starred in had she not turned down lucrative offers to work with top international stars.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Hollywood projects

Aishwarya made her Hollywood debut with Gurinder Chadha’s romantic drama Bride and Prejudice and hit the bull’s eye with her first-ever English project. The film was a hit among the audience as well as the critics for the Bollywood-style adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1813 novel. With a mix of English and Bollywood cast including Martin Henderson, Naveen Andrews, Namrata Shirodkar, Sonali Kulkarni, the film not just reached out to the English speaking audience but was noted by the Indian audience as well.

Aishwarya Rai in a still from Bride and Prejudice.
Aishwarya Rai in a still from Bride and Prejudice.

Aishwarya’s tragic drama Provoked was minus the glamour and the fun seen in her first Hollywood film and showed the vulnerable side of the actor. Aishwarya played the central character in Jag Mundhra’s film and touched the hearts of her fans with her powerful performance of a woman languishing in jail for the murder of her husband.

Head-turning appearances in Cannes

Aishwarya delivered quite a few English films including The Mistress of Spices, The Pink Panther 2 and The Last Legion but couldn’t replicate the success she clinched in Bollywood. However, she continued to be a known name overseas with her many other endeavours. Aishwarya is one of the most-talked about Indian actors at the annual Cannes Film Festival and has taken her appearances to new levels with every passing year. She is even accompanied by daughter Aaradhya to the French Riviera. Film release or not, Aishwarya always makes heads turn with her multiple glamourous appearances each other.  

View this post on Instagram

💖My Sunshine Forever☀️🌈✨ 💖LOVE YOU ❤️

A post shared by AishwaryaRaiBachchan (@aishwaryaraibachchan_arb) on

Turning down lucrative projects opposite Hollywood stars

Aishwarya not just made headlines for her Hollywood ventures but was also in news for rejecting some of the biggest offers of her life. She had turned down Brad Pitt-starrer Troy for not being comfortable filming certain scenes. The role finally went to Rose Byrne. Brad had even said once that he would like to work with her sometime.

Also read: When Aishwarya Rai admitted Shah Rukh Khan had her removed from multiple films, ‘without any explanation whatsoever’

Not just Brad, Will Smith also regretted not being able to work with Aishwarya. He had offered her projects like Hitch, Seven Pounds and Tonight He Comes but couldn’t get her on board. The actor had to turn down an opportunity to work in Tonight He Comes and opted to not attend the reading season due to family commitments. Will had said about Aishwarya during his visit to India, “I really wanted to work with her... She has this powerful energy where she doesn’t have to say anything, do anything, she can just stand there. Anything she’s making, I’ll be there.”

Follow @htshowbiz for more

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Get more updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On