Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai

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 glamor.”

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 into Bollywood’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.

“It’s great fun, we have a blast and this time it will be definitely unforgettable to me, literally too, because I’m going to be with my loved ones and with the fantastic groups that we tour with.”

Rai has no complaints about the warmth of the reception she has received during the IIFAs in Britain, insisting that the Bollywood film industry here is booming.

“It’s wonderful so far, the people here have been really, really warm and affectionate and we’re enjoying the welcome,” she said.

“The fact is that the film industry enjoys incredible support already in this country … actually we really do enjoy a fantastic support, a great audience and a very, very comfortable place here.”

Rai was nominated for the best actress award at the IIFA awards Saturday night for the hit action thriller Dhoom 2, which also stars her husband. But she lost out to Rani Mukherjee in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.

Aishwarya Rai

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.

We just hope that Sarkar Raj gets as much audience support as Sarkar itself did get. Of course Ram Gopal Varma will be hoping for the success similar to what “The Godfather” got!

Aishwarya n Abhishek

Abhishek Bachchan said his wife is uncomplicated and “always smiling,” in a newspaper interview published Wednesday, describing how he met and fell in love with Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai.

Bachchan and Rai were married in April in what Indian media dubbed “The Wedding of the Century” — an extravagant affair that had photographers and cameramen camped for days outside their homes in suburban Mumbai.

The two became friends when they worked together on the 2000 movie “Dhai Akshar Prem Ke,” but cupid didn’t strike until they filmed “Dhoom 2″ five years later.

Soon after Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, they were paired together again in Kuch Naa Kaho (2003) but it wasn’t till Aishwarya and he jived together to the beats of Kajra Re in Bunty Aur Babli, right under the eyes of dad Amitabh Bachchan, that the sparks began to fly. The romantic drama, Umrao Jaan, was supposed to be their big film together. When it hit the floors Abhishek and Aishwarya had not started dating, but well before its release they were known, though not acknowledged, to be an item. The film, though made with a lot of passion, failed to stir audiences and onscreen chemistry between the couple remained lackluster. Dhoom 2 shortly followed Umrao Jaan. Though Abhishek was not paired opposite Aishwarya the two spent a lot of time together on the sets and that seems to have done it. “We started dating in the latter half of the film as ‘Dhoom 2′ was shot for over a year-and-a-half,” he said.

Aishwarya Rai

“There are so many things I love about Aishwarya. She’s very human and unaffected and down-to-earth,” Bachchan told The Times. “A simple little girl who is always smiling and that’s very endearing.”

But he said it was difficult to pinpoint when he fell in love.

“There was no defining moment as such,” said Bachchan. “I cannot explain it in words.”

Has life changed after marriage? Bachchan says Rai was pressuring him to change his diet. “She tries to make me eat healthy food as she knows I have unhealthy habits,” said Bachchan.

Often described as one of the most beautiful women in the world, Rai, 33, is a former Miss World and a brand ambassador for leading cosmetic companies.

Bachchan, 31, is one of India’s most popular actors and comes from Bollywood royalty — his father, Amitabh, and mother, Jaya, are among India’s acting elite.

Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan definitely make a great pair.

We do wish them a very happy married life.

Aishwarya Rai

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.