Rare Flashback! Way back in 1994, which movie-title did (B’day-Girl) 'Miss World" Aishwarya Rai Bachchan feel, could be a good option ? !! By Sr. Journalist Chaitanya Padukone

Riding on the crest of her success-wave of her Pan-India blockbuster movies (PS)  Ponniyin Selvan –I and Ponnyyin Selvan-II ---  gorgeous global-icon ‘ageless’ Birthday Girl  Aishwarya Rai Bachchan today, completes 52 years,. Even as she has completes 28 years as a star- actress and top-model !.

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‘Ageless’  Aishwarya! Because she looks so rejuvenated and still so stunning. As is known,  the ravishing Rai started her acting career with the Tamil movie ‘Iruvar’ ( 1997) directed by iconic Mani Ratnam. Simultaneously, her first Hindi debut movie ‘Aur Pyar Ho Gaya’  directed by Rahul Rawail also released in 1997. Career-wise versatile Aishwarya has come a full circle, That’s because after 25 years again, she played the lead in blockbuster mega-hit Ponniyin Selvan :1 ( 2022) directed by the same illustrious Mani Ratnam.  Of course she has also featured in movies like ‘Guru’  (2007)  and Raavan (2010) directed by came Ratnam-Sir . Interestingly, Aishwarya played a dual role in Iruvar and this time once again in PS:1, she plays a dual role. And hold your breath, one of  her screen-characters in PS-1 is called “Nandini”. Which coincidentally was also the name of her award-winning lead character in ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)

Way back in 1994, when Aishwarya had returned to Mumbai after winning her coveted Miss World crown,  along with my buddy-star-actor Chunky Pandey, I met   Aishwarya Rai in a  palatial suite at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel at Colaba. . Interestingly both Chunky and I had a fun grilling media interview ( for Femina magazine) with the affable, zestful and quick-witted Aishwarya. Both her doting-caring parents were with her,  all thru at the luxurious Taj Palace Hotel special suite.  

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Family

During the informal chat with her I clearly remember 21-year-old Aishwarya mentioning ,that “besides modeling,  being cast the lead heroine in movies was among her priority career-options”. She had not yet signed any movie during 1994.  Later during that same conver-session, Chunky and I asked  ‘Aish’ ( also known for her beautiful light-eyes)  to share with us as a fantasy title option for a Hindi movie which she would love to be part of. Within a few seconds,  wearing a smile, she suggested, “maybe a movie title like ‘Jadoo Meri Nazarr’ “ , apparently keeping in mind, her own hypnotic light-eyes. Those days the romantic solo song  ‘Jadoo Teri Nazar’ sung by Udit Narayan from the movie ‘Darr’ ( 1993) was a reigning chartbuster banger song-track.

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Whenever after that, I met  modest super-model-actress Aishwarya at fashion events or other showbiz event she was always courtesy-grace personified.  In 1997 I reconnected with her for the release event of her debut movie ‘Aur Pyar Ho Gaya. And later again I attended the grand star-studded premiere of her movie ‘Jeans’  (1998)  directed by Southside innovative showman S.Shankar , ( of ‘Enthiran’ fame) at the Metro theatre ( Mumbai) . Even as I entered the large-lobby foyer of Metro theatre, I still remember how the unassuming heroine Aishwarya personally walked towards me to gracefully welcome me. She politely insisted that I should watch the entire movie and share my “honest  feedback”  with her , especially since had a dual character in ‘Jeans’. . 
Recently I met dignified  "Ash" ( Aishwaria at the media-events of both her multi-lingual blockbusters (PS) Ponniyin Selvan –I ( 2022) and Ponnyyin Selvan-II (2023)

Once, in the past, Aishwarya casually told me that she has a wonderful music-sense and loves to sing and hum. That several times she had felt the discreet urge to perhaps playback a song for herself’.  In fact I remember Aishwarya informally saying that she “would have loved to try singing” the playback duet song ‘Apun Bola’ which is sung by ‘singer’ Shah Rukh Khan in the movie ‘Josh’ (2000). The female track picturized on Aishwarya is sung by professional playback singer Hema Sardesai along with the King Khan.     

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We wish the exuberant, articulate Bachchan parivaar Bahurani--Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan  a super-delightful  52nd birthday.  May her career crown be always studded with dazzling gems of  glorious achievements, all the way ahead.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan songs

Did an item song with her husband and father-in-law