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Aishwarya Rai
Easily the most recognised face of Bollywood abroad, Ash has been on international juries and featured on the cover of Time.
Aishwarya Rai was born in a traditional south Indian family in Mangalore on November 1, 1973. Daughter of Vrinda Rai, Aishwarya was an architecture student when she entered modelling as her part time job. The green-blue eyed beauty took up ads for many prestigious firms and soon came into the limelight. She was crowned Miss India 1994 runner up and clinched the Miss World title the same year.
Her beauty and charm had already made her famous and then she stormed into the Bollywood film industry. A trained classical dancer, she won the best female debutant award for her role in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997). She also took up films in South Indian cinema and is best known for her role as Madhumita/Veishnavi in Jeans (1998) and Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000).
She bagged the best actress award by Filmfare for her performance in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). She also won rave reviews for her performance as a rape victim in Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000).
Aishwarya, popularly known as Ash, was the first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival (2002). She is also the first actress and performer from India to be featured on the cover of Time magazine.
Some of her films which are set for release are Mistress of Spices (2005), Singularity (2005), Chaos (2005/II), Shabd (2004) and Bride and Prejudice (2004).
