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When Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek answered if Aishwarya Rai would make it big in Hollywood: ‘She’ll go a distance but…'

Aishwarya Rai's Hollywood prospects were discussed by Bollywood stars on Koffee With Karan, with Shabana Azmi and Sushmita Sen expressing support. 

Published on: Jun 16, 2025, 16:45:03 IST
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Karan Johar’s iconic talk show Koffee With Karan, which began in 2004, remains one of the most successful talk shows. Now, a resurfaced clip from Season 1 is doing the rounds online, featuring Bollywood celebrities weighing in on Aishwarya Rai’s Hollywood prospects and the reactions from Abhishek and Amitabh Bachchan are unmissable. (Also Read: Aishwarya Rai dazzles, Aamir Khan disappoints? Rare clip of duo dancing to DDLJ song sparks reactions)

Abhishek Bachchan was sure Aishwarya Rai would make it in Hollywood, Amitabh Bachchan gave a warning.
Abhishek Bachchan was sure Aishwarya Rai would make it in Hollywood, Amitabh Bachchan gave a warning.

What Abhishek Bachchan said about Aishwarya Rai going to Hollywood

Karan hosted Aishwarya Rai and Sanjay Leela Bhansali in episode 4 of Koffee With Karan Season 1. In the episode, Karan showed Aishwarya a video montage of actors answering whether she would make it to Hollywood. Abhishek Bachchan said, “Yes, she is very talented, a wonderful professional and a great person to work with.” Sanjay Dutt remarked, “I hope she does, but I don’t think so.” Bipasha Basu said, “I think she has already taken a step towards it.” Zayed Khan responded positively, adding, “I think she’s got a universal appeal.” Ektaa Kapoor said, “I don’t know if she will, but I hope she does because my first assignment as a flunkie was with her, so I pray for her.”

Shabana Azmi noted, “I think she’s got everything required, but it is for her to decide whether she wants to go there or feels more secure being here. I think she’s got what it takes.” Sushmita Sen, who was said to be her rival at the time, stated, “She is being put out there as someone who is going to take Bollywood to Hollywood, and for the sake of that, I would want it to happen.”

Amitabh Bachchan on Aishwarya Rai's Hollywood prospects

Amitabh Bachchan said, “She will go a certain distance, but then there will be the glass ceiling.”

For the unversed, Abhishek was not married to Aishwarya at that time. The duo tied the knot in 2007 and welcomed their daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan, in 2011. Meanwhile, after earning global recognition by winning the Miss World title in 1994 and starring in acclaimed Indian films like Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Aishwarya made her Hollywood debut with Bride & Prejudice in 2004, directed by Gurinder Chadha — a cross-cultural take on Jane Austen’s classic. She later appeared in The Mistress of Spices, Provoked, and The Pink Panther 2 alongside Steve Martin.

  • Riya Sharma
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Riya Sharma

    Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.Read More

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