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Aishwarya Rai

By SARA TEMPLETON

It's a little-known fact that this writer is a huge fan of all things Bollywood, and while Aishwarya Rai - or Ash, as she's nicknamed - is doing great things in the Indian movie industry, she was a top-model too, before her Bollywood calling. So, without further ado, let's get on with the show...

Aishwarya Rai was born on November 1st, 1973 in Mangalore, which is located in the southern state of Karnataka, India.

Rai, a scorpio, moved from Mangalore in 1978, when she was just four-years of age, to the much larger city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay).

Her father, who worked in the merchant navy, was proud of Ash from a very young age, due largely to her academic prowess. During her schooling years, she excelled in many areas, but science was her pet subject.

She was very keen on the medical and zoological areas, but when it came time to go to university, she opted for an architecture stream. Suffice to say, whatever she put her mind to, she could achieve, and passed her entrance exam for architecture with ease.

With her amazing blue-green eyes, natural beauty and standing some 5'7" tall, it was only a matter of time before she started modeling. As such, she starred in a few minor ads here and there, but before long, she put her architectural career on hold to concentrate on show business.

Her big break was arguably a Pepsi commercial she headlined, following which everyone in India wanted to know who this beauty was.

After the success of this one ad, she went on to star in advertising campaigns for companies such as Sheetal diva, Prudent, Palmolive, Casio and Philips. Aishwarya was in high demand.

After entering a premier Ford Supermodel contest, heeding friend's advice, she was rather shocked when she won, as Ash had always been very conscious of underachieving.

During the event, she was spotted by photographer Steven Meisel, and following this she was featured in Vogue magazine.

Now the ball was really rolling, and Bollywood types took notice. Subsequently, that same year she starred in Mamagaru, her first sojourn into acting.

With Aishwarya's modeling and acting career taking up more of her time, she had to decide which path to take. It wasn't an easy decision, as Ash was very academically inclined, always at the top of her class.

But after winning the Ford Supermodel competition, then becoming the runner-up in the Miss Femina World contest, she was eager for more, and the Miss World event was drawing closer...

If she entered, it would mean a two month hiatus from her studies, but she followed her heart and entered the Miss World contest in 1994, knowing that the kind of publicity on offer was potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

In Sun City, South Africa, 1994, Aishwarya Rai was crowned Miss World, and upon her return to India, she recieved an overwhelming reception - young and old alike lined the streets to cheer her on and, after winning this, she became a house-hold name in India.

Next stop: Bollywood...

Despite a lack of experience in acting, Ash was quickly accepted into the ranks of Bollywood, and before long, the accolades came thick and fast as she proved herself on the silver screen.

In 1997, she starred in the critically-acclaimed Iruvar (The Duo) and was given the 'India's Screen Best Female Debut' award for her role in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya.

In 1999, she won the 'Filmfare Award for Best Actress' for her role in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (Straight from the Heart). Since then, she has appeared in such Indian films as Mohabbatein (Love Stories), Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai and Kandukondain Kandukondain (I Have Found It), which is set in beautiful southern India.

In 2002, Ash has featured in half-a-dozen Bollywood productions, and with her popularity still on the rise, she can do no wrong. While many are hoping she enters European cinema or even Hollywood in 2003, this writer hopes Aishwarya Rai stays true to Bollywood.