Last week I was on an Ash DVD fest. I saw two of her movies back to back - Raincoat and Chokher Bali - both by Rituparno Ghosh. And I must say, this is not the Ash I saw in Jeans and Aa Ab Laut Chalein.
I remember Aishwarya from her first television appearance ever. It was the Lehar Pepsi ad with Amir Khan. Remember ?It?s me, Sanjana.? She was indisputably the most beautiful face ever seen on the Indian tube. Then things happened and she became Miss World. People spoke and wrote reams about her congeniality (which she definitely must possess) and she became India?s hottest celebrity.
Meanwhile Sushmita became Miss Universe, but that didn?t matter. It was Aishwarya?s looks that captivated India. The whole of India went, ?Ash, wow!!!?
Then Ash entered films. She must have been the luckiest, for she gave about a dozen super-flops in the shortest time, but still survived. The furniture emoted better than her in movies like Jeans, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, Aa Ab Laut Chalein, etc. People still went to watch these films to watch her face and her cleavage, which had started getting lower and lower after each flop film. But they came away unimpressed. The whole of India went, ?Ash, yechhh!!!? For cleavage, there was always Shilpa Shirodkar.
Then Ash became wary. She buttoned up her blouse and tightened up her acting. Sanjay Leela Bhansali?s eyes fell on her. And Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam happened. What a movie! Beautiful script, lovely sets, fabulous movies, Ajay Devgan, Salman Khan and Ash. It couldn?t have been better. And add to it the liberal Gujarati dose. The movie swept the nation and the whole of India went, ?Ash, wowee!!!?
Devdas followed. Ash got a chance to gyrate with Madhuri. She didn?t do better than her, but not worse too. The period movie became a runaway hit and Ash was firmly enthroned in her Neeta Lulla designed (I think) sarees. The very fact that the beautiful costumes and beautiful face made Ash a dream in the movie contributed to its becoming a hit.
There were flashes in the pan on the way. Kandukondain Kandukondain is one of Ash?s acclaimed hits where she was pitted against Tabu and applauded. So was her performance in the Bangla film Chokher Bali where plays every inch the seductive widow. No longer was Ash just a face.
Here I must say that though Ash has a tremendously beautiful face, she lacks in S.A. I need to elaborate on some points:-
Ash the actor
Ash needs a good director. If the role needs glamour, Ash will deliver. If it needs histrionics, well, I can?t say definitely now, because Ash is still on the way.
Ash the star
Undoubtedly! With that face one could seduce a Vishwamitra or tame down a Don Juan de Marco (SK). She is brand ambassador for dozens of products, makes heads turn her way when she?s present in the jury at Cannes and literally commands the red carpet wherever she goes. But she has to work on her costume sense.
Ash the woman
Now here comes the clinching point. Sorry, Ash, to be personal about you. But had she flicked away that pest SK right in the beginning, things wouldn?t have come to what they did. Definitely, there must have been some signs on Ash?s part that led him to believe she was in love with him. Here again, where he started trespassing on her privacy, she should have blasted him in print, not maintained that characteristic icy silence. If she had done so, she?d have been more the woman on India. Rather she had to depend on boyfriend Vivek Oberoi?s shoulders to call a press conference. Here, neither did Ash prove to be woman, nor did Vivek prove to be man.
Ash vs Sush
I love Sush. I like Ash. Period
Ash in Hollywood
We are all waiting for this to happen. But we do not want Ash to see in some skimpy role in skimpy outfits. It should be a mainstream Hollywood film with established actors. Ash should have accepted the James Bond movie. Even people like Hale Berry were in his movies. Movies like Bride and Prejudice and Mistress of Spices will do nothing for your Hollywood dreams. Maybe, now that Michael Douglas is in India, something will happen.
Lastly, a personal note to Ash. Ash, if you succeed in your endeavour, all us Indians will be absolutely proud of you. Because you have potential, just drop those airs of haughtiness and acting high and mighty and maybe the people of India will go, ?Ash, yeaah!!!?