Aishwarya Rai

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai is set to star in a major film about the Taj Mahal, India’s famous monument to love.

Aishwarya will play the role of Mumtaz Mahal, the favorite wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan who built the stunning monument for her.

Oscar-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley, who will also be producing the $30m film, will play Shah Jahan. Aishwarya is no doubt, one of Bollywood’s top stars and is hugely popular around the world.

The as yet untitled film will be produced by Sir Ben and is scheduled to be shot in India in 2008, Rai’s foreign agent Simone Sheffield told the BBC News website.

The director of the film has not yet been chosen and the script has yet to be completed, Ms Sheffield said.

Another Bollywood actress and former model, Bipasha Basu, will be playing the role of Shah Jahan’s daughter, Jahanara. Ms Sheffield said Sir Ben had met Basu while co-hosting the Seven New Wonders of the World event in Lisbon in July, where they had discussed the role.

Aishwarya is presently filming Pink Panther 2, starring Steve Martin, Andy Garcia, Jean Reno and John Cleese, in Boston. She has worked in international projects with mixed results. In 2005, she appeared in the British romantic comedy Bride and Prejudice; and she also starred in Provoked, a film based on the autobiography of a victim of domestic abuse, who was convicted of the murder of her husband.

Ms Sheffield said Aishwarya was “considering two other films” for next spring.

“She is special because she can play different ages and ethnicities. Because of this, many producers and directors think of her in a wide range of roles,” she said.

Well, all we can say is to wish you Good luck in everything you do Ash.

This has to be the biggest film ever, for Aishwarya Rai.

Hollywood actor Steve Martin in an upcoming sequel to the iconic ‘The Pink Panther.’

To be directed by Harald Zwart of Agent Cody Banks fame, the sequel will also have Andy Garcia, John Cleese and Alfred Molina. Jean Reno and Emily Mortimer will be back as Ponton and Nicole.

Rai’s business manager Harii Singh confirmed the news, first reported by Variety magazine. “It is true that Aishwarya has signed the film,” he said. The film is slated for release in 2009, and the “principal photography” will begin in France next month, Singh said. “Aishwarya will finish the dubbing for Ashutosh Gowariker’s Akbar Jodha and the shooting of Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Sarkar 2’ before starting on The ‘Pink Panther 2.’ From the first week of September to the end of October, she will be shooting outside India,” Singh added.

Ash will play one of the detectives along with Villain Molina and Garcia. They will join French police detective Jacques Clouseau, played by Martin.

To be co-produced by Columbia Pictures and MGM, the film will be distributed by Warner Brothers. Based on the 1964 Peter Sellers’ original, ‘The Pink Panther’ collected over $140 million last year.

Bollywood superstar and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai yesterday became the first Indian celebrity to have her wax model displayed at Madame Tussauds Museum in historic Time Square here.

Within minutes of unveiling of her life-like model dressed in intricately patterned red Sari, her fans in New York began flocking the museum to admire the waxwork.

The unveiling of the model, borrowed by the New York Madame Tussaunds from its parent museum in London, coincided with the India’s 60th Independence Day celebration and will be on display for six weeks before being sent back.

But several of her fans, who had gathered at the museum, said the six weeks were too short a period for all fans from New York City and neighbouring states to see their favourite star in wax.

A group of dancers, dressed in ‘lahengas’ and matching blouses, gave a scintillating performance during the 15 minute unveiling ceremony. The dances portrayed several of her popular songs.

In the museum, Rai is in the company of several other celebrities including Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

Besides Rai, the only Indian film personalities immortalised at Madame Tussauds in London are her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, super star Shah Rukh Khan and Tamil superstar Rajnikanth. Other Indian attractions at the museum are Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

But Rai became the first Indian celebrity to be displayed in New York. Rai’s waxwork was unveiled in London in 2004, timed with the release of her first international film, “Bride and Prejudice”, directed by London-based Gurinder Chadha. She was present during the unveiling in London.

Director of Marketing of the New York Museum Rosemary Preta said the coming of Rai’s waxwork to New York fulfills the long standing demand of her fans.

Set up by Frenchwoman Marie Tussauds in London in 1835, the world famous museum now has branches in Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Shanghai, besides New York, with Washington DC to be added to the list in October 2007.

For the first time in her career Aishwarya Rai goes completely makeup-free for Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar. He has had the time of his life shooting with the Bachchans, including their Bahu Aishwarya Rai.

Exults Ramu, “Very frankly I was wondering what she had in store considering I had never worked with her before. And considering the Sarkar sequel is a dark intense raw and real film I was apprehensive about how far Aishwarya Rai would be able to shed her immense glamour.”

But the Bachchan bahu took Ramu by surprise. “She shocked me with her performance. Without too many rehearsals and certainly without attending any pre-shoot workshop (I work, I don’t shop) Aishwarya has stood up to Amitji and Abhishek in every scene. Audiences will be shocked with her performance.”

Apparently Ramu is already planning a third part to the Sarkar saga. “I can’t see the film working without her. But to quote me as saying the film could’ve worked with Mr Bachchan and Abhishek but not without Aishwarya is like saying the Godfather could do without Brando and Pacino.”

Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai may have just married intoBollywood’s most powerful acting dynasty, but she seems unfazed by her illustrious in-laws, saying they are just “family to me.”

Rai, one of only a handful of Bollywood stars with crossover appeal thanks to films such as Bride And Prejudice, married fellow star Abhishek Bachchan in April, creating what Indian media have dubbed the “ultimate power couple.”

Rai spoke to AFP on Saturday at Leeds Metropolitan University, north England where her father-in-law, actress Shabana Azmi and producer/director Yash Chopra received honorary degrees during the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFAs).

Asked how it feels being part of such a famous family, she laughed, cast a glimpse towards her nearby husband and said: “It’s all great — well, they’re family to me and that’s what makes it most special.”

The emerald-eyed beauty also spoke of her excitement at the “Unforgettable” world tour, kicking off in April 2008, when she will appear on stage with Bachchan father and son for the first time.

“I’ve been on world tours before which are always a fantastic experience because that’s your opportunity to really interact with your wellwishers, fans, world over in person,” she said.

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The title if misread will definitely give you goosebumps. No the couple ain’t splitting in real life but yes in the reel life. Bollywood’s most beautiful couple, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, will have to watch each other play the role of spouse to another in the upcoming film “Sarkar Raj.”

Aishwarya Rai, the 1994 Miss World, and Abhishek Bachchan, son to legendary Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan were married in April of this year but when they share the screen in “Sarkar Raj” they will be anything but friendly.

Aishwarya will play the role of an independent woman caught up in the corporate world and power games. According to director Ram Gopal Varma, “We’ve worked hard on the look. The glamour of Aishwarya in ‘Sarkar Raj’ will be that she won’t be glamorous. She’s so intrinsically beautiful it will be a challenge to make her look simple. But I want her to look like nothing she has done so far.”

In many ways the film, a sequel to “Sarkar,” is similar to “The Godfather” with the political maneuverings inside an underworld family.

Our Beauty Queen, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan continues to turn heads and looks like getting prettier with each passing day.

The latest feather in her cap is the ninth position in a poll of the 100 most beautiful women of today in the July issue of Harpers and Queen.

Coincidentally two years ago the actress had secured exactly the same spot in a similar poll.

Topping the list is Hollywood beauty Angelina Jolie followed by model Christy Turlingron, Queen Rania of Jordon, Director Sofia Copolla and celebrity Chef Nigella Lawson.

“It’s wonderful,” said Aishwarya.

Ash beat actress Scarlett Johanson, singer Beyonce Knowles and supermodel Gisele Bundchen who husband Abhishek was quite a fan of.

“I have the best wife in the world,” says the dotting husband.

Abhishek of course is probably not surprised that she’s beat out the competition after all.

Bollywood movie stars Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai visited a specialist charity centre in Leeds.

Bachchan and his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai visited the Sense Rodney Clark Resource Centre in Leeds, a specialist centre that offers vocational, educational and arts facilities for people who are both deaf and blind.

” As you know IIFA is here to celebrate Indian cinema and whereas we have the award ceremony and the celebrations but I think it is vital that we also associate ourselves with some of the more social work that is being conducted in the region which is hosting us. So whether it is a charity match that we are about to play a little later on for a noble cause, whether it is associating ourselves with global cool which is going to look after the global warming issue or whether it is to spend some time with this very noble institution ‘Sense’. ” the actor told reporters.

Bachchan played the part of the inspirational tutor of a deaf-blind child in the 2005 film `Black`. An experience that taught him a lot.

” I did a film some years ago where I was a teacher and there was a little girl who was deaf dumb and blind and we did go through a course of learning some basic sign language to be able to communicate in the film. When you are dealing with a character who is physically challenged in this manner and you have to do a film I think your task is doubly tortuous because not only are you trying to convey to your colleague who is physically handicapped what I am saying but I have to interpret what she is saying to me and because she cannot speak therefore the audience can not hear what she is says so I have to repeat what she says and we had to build the scene accordingly. “

He was approached by Sense to visit the centre to raise awareness of deaf -blindness whilst he is in England for the International Indian Film Awards (IIFA) taking place in Sheffield.

Often dubbed the “Godfather” of Indian cinema, Bachchan has appeared in over 160 films and has a multitude of awards and recognitions to his name.

In 1999 he was voted the Movie star of the Millennium in a BBC online poll, beating stars such as Robert De Niro, Charlie Chaplin and Sir Alec Guiness.

Aishwarya Rai is the most famous actress in Bollywood. She is renowned for being the first woman to make the crossover from Bollywood to Hollywood. A former Miss World, she is the face of De Beers diamonds and L`Oreal.

She recently married Abhishek Bachchan in a lavish wedding ceremony in India. Her new husband was also present in Yorkshire.

Ahhh….So it’s the eve. The Big Day is almost here. Lot of news and lot to talk about Aishwarya and Abhishek’s marriage. With no doubts, this is the biggest marriage occassion if we are talking about Bollywood. Aishwarya and Abhishek are both at the top of their rocking career and one of the biggest celebrities in Bollywood. No doubt this has to be the biggest event. And we are happy for them, aren’t we?

The stage is set for the ultimate ritzy and swanky Bollywood wedding when Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai tie the knot on Friday even as the traditional “mehndi” ceremony got underway tonight. After an elaborate ’sangeet’ ceremony which lasted till wee hours this morning, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan’s wedding celebrations saw a traditional ‘mehendi’ ceremon.

The mehendi ceremony held at the bride`s home in La Mer Apartments in suburban Bandra was a totally private affair on the second day of the three-day marriage festivities. “As per tradition, the mehndi ceremony was held at the bride’s house. It was a small, private ceremony with only close relatives and friends of the Rais invited,” sources close to the actress said.

The sources said last night’s sangeet ceremony was an “emotional affair” with all members of the Bachchan family putting in performances and dancing away into the night to their favourite Bollywood numbers.

“Since sangeet went on till early this morning, everybody is understandably tired and therefore the ceremony started a little late than originally planned,” the sources said.

A special pandal was also erected in the compound of La Mer apartment. Unlike Wednesday during the sangeet ceremony at the Bachchan residence “Prateeksha”, there was no huge crowds wanting to catch a glimpse of tinsel stars.

The wedding ceremony will be held at the Bachchans’ bungalow “Prateeksha” late Friday evening, which will be attended by some of the top personalities in the country.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, Karan Johar, Bal Thackeray, Sanjay Dutt, Anil and Tina Ambani, Sachin Tendulkar and Subroto Roy among others have been invited for the wedding.

Before the ceremony, the marriage procession will leave from the Bachchans’ other bungalow ‘Jalsa’ in the evening.

This is going to be really BIG. And like always, our love to Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek. May God bless them and may they live happily forever.

The upcoming wedding of Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai will be the greatest marriage in India’s modern history and could be as big as that of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, a media report said on Sunday.

“With a guest list expected to exceed 5,000, helicopters hired to shower petals over the reception and the astrological charts finally predicting a union that is truly blessed, the marriage of the former Miss World Aishwarya Rai and Bollywood leading man Abhishek Bachchan, the son of Asia’s most famous actor Amitabh Bachchan is expected to happen within a month,” the Observer reported.

The ceremony, set to be held over 10 days in a private estate on the outskirts of Mumbai and a palace in Rajasthan, is being hailed as a Bollywood fairytale and India’s answer to the coupling of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the report said.

“For Indians across the world this wedding will be as big as Charles and Diana’s was for the British”, Bollywood columnist Amita Ghosh was quoted in the report.

“The question people are asking right now is: why all the fuss about Liz Hurley? Perhaps this is why the media in India have turned against Liz, nobody really knows who she is. Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan are our real stars and their wedding is the only one that counts,” Ghosh said.

The alluring green-eyed Ash, who is considered Bollywood’s top leading lady and has several hit movies to her credit, including Bride and Prejudice, was named one of People magazine’s 100 most beautiful people.

Abhishek is the son of the king of the Indian film industry and a star in his own right. Their story has been sold as the tale of two people who found love after a string of failed romances, the report said.