Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Acting

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Born 1973-11-01 · Mangalore, Karnataka, India

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (born November 1, 1973) is an Indian actress who is primarily known for her work in Hindi and Tamil cinema. Born in Mangaluru, Karnataka, into a Tulu-speaking Bunt family, she later moved to Mumbai, where she attended the Arya Vidya Mandir High School and Jai Hind College. Initially considering a career in medicine or architecture, she eventually shifted her focus to modeling. She catapulted to international fame after winning the Miss World 1994 pageant, which opened the doors to a highly successful acting career, eventually establishing her as one of the most popular and influential celebrities in India. Rai made her acting debut in Mani Ratnam's critically acclaimed Tamil political drama *Iruvar* (1997). That same year, she made her Hindi film debut in the romantic comedy *Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya*. Her first major commercial breakthrough came with the Tamil romantic drama *Jeans* (1998). In 1999, she achieved massive mainstream success in Bollywood, delivering a breakout performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's romantic musical *Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam*, which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, followed by Subhash Ghai's hit musical *Taal*. She further solidified her status as a leading lady with powerful performances in the Tamil film *Kandukondain Kandukondain* (2000) and the Hindi blockbuster *Mohabbatein* (2000). In 2002, Rai delivered a career-defining performance as Paro in Bhansali's magnum opus *Devdas*, earning her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Throughout the 2000s, she showcased her versatility by taking on a wide array of roles, gaining critical acclaim for her work in the Bengali film *Chokher Bali* (2003) and the Hindi drama *Raincoat* (2004). She also delivered some of the biggest commercial hits of the decade, including the action-thriller *Dhoom 2* (2006), the biographical drama *Guru* (2007), the historical epic *Jodhaa Akbar* (2008), the sci-fi blockbuster *Enthiran* (2010), and the poignant drama *Guzaarish* (2010). During this era, she also expanded her footprint internationally, starring in English-language films such as *Bride and Prejudice* (2004) and *The Pink Panther 2* (2009). Following the birth of her daughter Aaradhya with husband Abhishek Bachchan, Rai took a sabbatical from acting. She made her comeback with the thriller *Jazbaa* (2015) and subsequently earned praise for her roles in the biographical drama *Sarbjit* (2016) and Karan Johar's romantic drama *Ae Dil Hai Mushkil* (2016). She recently reunited with her mentor Mani Ratnam to deliver a masterful performance in a complex dual role as Nandini and Mandakini Devi in the epic historical blockbusters *Ponniyin Selvan: I* (2022) and *Ponniyin Selvan: II* (2023). Regarded as a global icon, she has been honored with the Padma Shri by the Government of India (2009) and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France (2012) for her monumental contributions to cinema.

Acting credits

The Last Legion poster
5.6

As the Roman empire crumbles, young Romulus Augustus flees the city and embarks on a perilous voyage to Britain to track down a legion of supporters.

The Last Legion

2007

The Pink Panther 2 poster
5.7

When legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther Diamond, Chief Inspector Dreyfus is forced to assign Inspector Clouseau to a team of international detectives and experts charged with catching the thief and retrieving the stolen artifacts.

The Pink Panther 2

2009

Guru poster
6.9

A villager, Gurukant Desai, arrives in Bombay in 1958, and rises from its streets to become the biggest tycoon in India.

Guru

2007

Provoked poster
6.7

Provoked is the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, a Punjabi woman who moved to London after her marriage with Deepak Ahluwalia. Her husband seemed caring at first but then began to beat her up. He started drinking a lot and sleeping around with other women. he also subjected her to spousal rape. After ten years and having two children with him, out of fear, she sets him on fire.

Provoked

2007

Bride & Prejudice poster
6.5

Mrs. Bakshi is eager to find suitors for her four unmarried daughters when a family friend introduces them to handsome American Will Darcy. A Bollywood-style modern adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel.

Bride & Prejudice

2004

Enthiran poster
6.6

Dr. Vaseegaran creates Chitti, a powerful robot in his own image, but it is rejected by the scientific body AIRD due to its lack of human behaviour and emotions. After a lightning strike triggers emotions in Chitti, he begins to develop human-like feelings. However, Chitti falls in love with Dr. Vaseegaran's fiancée, Sana, and turns against his creator, leading to dangerous consequences.

Enthiran

2010

Mohabbatein poster
7.1

At a prestigious all-male university, three friends seek love outside of the school grounds; at the same time, a newly-hired music teacher seeks to befriend and loosen up the militantly strict headmaster.

Mohabbatein

2000

Dhoom 2 poster
6.6

Jai and Ali return, this time on the trail of an international thief who steals priceless artifacts and has chosen Mumbai as his next target.

Dhoom 2

2006

Devdas poster
7.5

In 1900s India, Calcuttan zamindar Devdas Mukherjee — unable to marry his lover — takes up alcohol and the company of a courtesan to alleviate the pain.

Devdas

2002

Ravoyi Chandamama poster
6.0

Raavoyi Chandamama is a 1999 Telugu romance film produced by C. Ashwini Dutt under the Vyjayanthi Movies banner and directed by Jayanth C. Paranjee. It stars Nagarjuna Akkineni, Anjala Zhaveri, Keerthi Reddy and Jagapati Babu in the lead roles, with music composed by Mani Sharma.

Ravoyi Chandamama

1999

Action Replayy poster
5.2

A young man tries to revive his parents' wilting marriage by traveling to the 1970s when their romance was budding to help make it bloom: something more complex than he expects.

Action Replayy

2010

Jodhaa Akbar poster
7.3

A sixteenth century love story about a marriage of alliance that gave birth to true love between a Mughal emperor and a Rajput princess.

Jodhaa Akbar

2008

Ponniyin Selvan: Part I poster
7.1

The Chola kingdom is under threat from forces both internal and external, and with crown prince Aaditha Karikalan, his younger brother Arunmozhi Varman and the emperor, Sundara Cholar separated by situations, it is up to a messenger to ensure the safety of the kingdom. Can he succeed in his mission, especially with Karikalan's former girlfriend, Nandhini, plotting to bring down the entire Chola empire?

Ponniyin Selvan: Part I

2022

Jeans poster
6.3

The father of twin brothers wants to get them married to only twin sisters. But one of the brothers falls in love with a woman does not have a twin sister.

Jeans

1998

...Aur Pyar Ho Gaya poster
5.7

Aashi and Bobby fall in love with each other in the unlikeliest of circumstances, but they have to encounter their families' wrath in order to stay together.

...Aur Pyar Ho Gaya

1997

The Mistress of Spices poster
6.2

Tilo is an Indian shopkeeper in America with an ability to see the future and a magical connection to powerful spices, which she uses to help her customers satisfy their various needs and desires. One day she falls in love with an American man. But the spices forbid it.

The Mistress of Spices

2005

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam poster
6.4

A newly-wed man discovers that his wife is in love with another man and decides to unite them. Ignoring the ridicule he might have to face for this, he takes his wife to Italy in search of her love.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

1999

Jazbaa poster
6.8

After her daughter is kidnapped, a lawyer is forced to defend a criminal in exchange for her daughter's freedom.

Jazbaa

2015

Raincoat poster
7.4

Tells the story of two lovers, separated by destiny, who meet again one day. This encounter allows each to realize the truth about the lives they are living.

Raincoat

2004

Ponniyin Selvan: Part II poster
6.2

968 AD. The Pandyan assassins gather once again to destroy the Chola dynasty. Now the mighty Chola princes must fight the Pandyas, the Rashtrakutas and other Chola enemies who have joined forces. Also, at play are the rumours of Ponniyin Selvan’s death at sea, the powerful Pazhuvettarayar’s betrayal, and the tragic destiny of Aditha Karikalan, whose heart was long lost to the vengeful Nandini.

Ponniyin Selvan: Part II

2023

Dil Ka Rishta poster
6.3

Wealthy Jai Mehta is a young man with a heart that has gold. He supports many charitable organizations in India and one day when he visits a deaf and dumb school, he falls in love with the teacher there, Tia Sharma, expresses his love to her and is openly humiliated when she introduces her fiancé, Raj. Soon after Raj and Tia gets married and are proud parents of a baby boy, Anshu. A heart broken Jai takes to alcohol and one night under the influence of alcohol, Jai's car collide with Raj and Tia's car mysteriously killing Raj and seriously injuring Tia about the head. Tia is treated by doctor, recovers but is unable to remember anything from her troubled past. Jai makes it his responsibility to take care of her, slowly she falls in love with him and proposes marriage. But will this marriage takes place or will Tia remembers her past and takes revenge from Jai for the death of her husband and for her current condition

Dil Ka Rishta

2003

Raavanan poster
6.9

After inspector Dev stirs the reign of Veeraiya, a tribal outlaw, the latter responds by kidnapping his wife, Ragini. While she tries to escape from him, Dev fights many resistances to find her.

Raavanan

2010

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil poster
6.4

Ayan falls in love with his soulmate, Alizeh, but she doesn’t reciprocate the feeling. Later, a relationship with Saba helps him realize Alizeh’s value in his life, irrespective of their relationship status.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

2016

Shakti: The Power poster
6.4

A couple visits the husband's family in India and finds itself in the middle of a fratricidal battle.

Shakti: The Power

2002