The magic of Aishwarya Rai has remained with me all these years!
Ever since her debut in Aur Pyar Ho Gaya, I have been a devoted Aishwarya fan. Her beauty and talent made me want to see how far she could go. To my amazement, she has surpassed Bollywood's expectations with her wonderful performances in Devdas, Taal, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Chokher Bali.
My favourite Ash film is Devdas. She was wonderful as Paro and I am happy she won awards for her performance. I am fulfilled as a fan!
I can't wait for her upcoming movies. They sound so wonderful and diverse, especially Bride And Prejudice, The Rising, Khakee and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, not to mention her Hollywood film. I cannot wait to experience her in another industry and to know that all my American friends can enjoy her like me!
Here is wishing Aishwarya Rai a happy birthday. I hope I can meet her one day.
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Celebrating Aishwarya!
Gaurav Arora resides in Los Angeles, USA.
Ash: a role model
I have never met Ash but it would be a dream come true if I got the chance. She has influenced me in many ways. Her hard work in her films gives an indirect message that there are no shortcuts to success. Success can only be achieved by 'burning the midnight oil'.
Through her nature, she shows one how to behave in society and how not to give in to back-stabbers. She can be a role model to this new generation, which believes nothing but timepass.
R G Malshetwar
Ash is above par!
Aishwarya Rai is a decent actress. Although she is not consistent with her performances (this is either due to disinterest on her part or because of the director), she has given some great performances.
Even though I do not like films like Taal, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas, her performances are above par. She can definitely be a better actress, although she is below the leagues of Tabu, Madhuri Dixit, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta, Antara Mali and Karisma Kapoor.
As far as her looks go, she is beautiful though I think Madhuri, Rani, Sonali Bendre and Shilpa Shetty are prettier.
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Bound to sway young hearts!
Aishwarya Rai is one of the most gorgeous actresses in Indian cinema.
As an 11th grade student in Chennai, I saw Ash in her debut, the disastrous Iruvar. I remember D S Ramanujam of The Hindu writing in his review of the film that she was 'bound to sway young hearts'. How true!
Ash's strengths as an actress aren't her histrionic abilities. Her silken grace and easy charm (watch her in Rajiv Menon's Kandukondain Kandukondain for her natural portrayal of a simple girl who believes that her dreams will come true) combined with her amazing dancing skills are the reasons why she is still ruling in Bollywood, and is now going international.
As an 'actress', she does have a checkered resume. For every Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Kandukondain Kandukondain, there is a Devdas (don't shoot me, I didn't like her in Devdas) that comes along to raise doubts about her acting skills. I also feel she doesn't take chances as an actress. Tabu, for example, plays difficult characters with astounding conviction (Chandni Bar). It would be great to see Ash in a film where her make-up and costumes take second place to a 'haunting' characterisation.
As for personal experiences, yes, I had met her at the Image Auditorium in Chennai in 1997. She had come for a fund-raising
event organised by actress Revathi. She looked dazzling in a brown sari. The photograph and autograph adorn the one of the walls of my room.
Ram Murali resides in Pittsburg, USA.
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