When Aishwarya Rai’s dazzling green eyes looked out of ads for a cosmetic giant, few thought the brand would position her as the ‘older woman’. But by signing Sonam Kapoor as its young ambassador, L’Oreal seems to have done just that. This unkindest cut comes not long after Ash — once considered the lady with the Midas touch — was knocked off her Nakshatra pedestal by the pretty and popular Katrina Kaif.
Sonam is technically not Ash’s rival — she has been signed up to promote a new line for younger buyers — but the brand’s move has not gone down very well with the Bachchan bahu. “Aishwarya is not happy to be tagged as the face of 30-plus women. She is not in denial about her age, but she is miffed by the demarcation,” says a source close to her.
Aishwarya was, however, gracious when Katrina replaced her some weeks ago. “I am having the time of my life,” she said. “There’s a lot to look forward to, which includes a wonderful family and an exciting line-up of films.”
For Sonam, whose career has not seen any fireworks after her debut Sawaariya, this is a great deal, cracked by Atul Kasbekar’s celeb management firm Bling. “Though this is her first endorsement, she’s been paid as much as the likes of Kat and Kareena,” says a Bling source.