Aishwarya Rai, born on 01 November 1973 was the second child of Brindya and Krishnaraj Rai. She was born with blue-eyed but over the years, the color slowly changed into the now famous grey-green. She was good looking and charming during her school years and boys were keen to date her. She kept herself away from the boys and Ash as she was nicknamed remained focused on her studies, excelling academically and becoming the Head Girl of her school.
While studying architecture in Bombay, she moved into the world of modeling and even without a regular portfolio of pictures, was soon in great demand, bagging many prestigious advertisement campaigns and gracing the most important fashion shows. But it was her unforgettable Pepsi commercial with actor Aamir Khan that made her a hit.
In 1994 Ash entered for the Miss India contest and a spontaneous publicity campaign awaited her. In Goa at the Miss India pageant she had won the Miss Catwalk, Miss Photogenic and the important Miss Perfect 10. With each succeeding crown, the 23 other contestants began to get edgy, particularly with the last title, since it would count in the event of a tie. As one of the five finalists, Ash was asked the question: ?Which historical moment would you rewrite if given the chance to do so?’’ She stated that she would rewrite the moment of her birth, so she could have been born a leader of sorts and changed the world to bring peace. The judges thought her answer was self centered and the pendulum swung away from her. The judges called for a tie, and another agonizingly tense round of questioning took place on stage and eventually she was declared runner-up with Sushmita Sen becoming Miss India.
Ash went for the Miss World Contest in South Africa representing India where she walked away with the crown. On her homecoming in December 1994 with the Miss World crown firmly on her head, thousands of Indians thronged the airport and lined the streets around her horse driven cavalcade. The prodigal daughter had come home to a royal welcome. During the next one year she lived in the United Kingdom and returned only four times to India, to complete various modeling assignments.
She returned to India after handing over the crown to the new Miss World Jaqueline Aquilera of Venezuela in 1995 and pledged her beautiful eyes to an Eye Bank and endorsing it on national television. Ash was once again showered by publicity. Since her entrance into the Indian film industry in 1995, she has been signed on by the best directors, in films with lavish budgets, opposite leading stars and is today the superstar of the Indian film industry. Aishwarya Rai - an original, who is treading very well in her transition from beauty queen to screen queen, moving beyond the flashlights into the limelight.
Ash has made two Telegu movies 25 Hindi movies and is now doing movies in Hollywood. The following movies are yet to be released:
Bride and Prejudice
Shabd
The heart of India
Singularity
Chaos
Mistress of Spices
Recently she has been honoured with her statue being displayed in Madam Tussaud?s Wax Museum.
Ash can be truly given the title of ?The Most Beautiful Girl in The World?.