Why didn't Sush become as big as Aish? - Page 6

Originally posted by: krangara

[quote]I remember watching the Filmfare + Zee Cine Awards of 1997 where Aishwarya Rai was nominated for Best Debut Award for her first Hindi film 'Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya' - alongside others (Mahima Choudhry, Pooja Batra, Rani Mukherji, Angela Zaveri) and she didn't win. The award went to Mahima for 'Pardes'.

The camera zoomed in on Aish - look on her face was something to be seen. She was applauding but at the same time, as Mahima walked upon the stage to receive her award with much noise from the crowd, I could see it in her eyes - the hurt and disappointment.

I could almost sense her saying to herself in her head "I have got to prove myself to these people. I WILL prove myself!"

Rai had worked on a Pepsi commercial back in 1993 with Mahima which also starred Aamir Khan. It was the first time she was seen by a national audience and she stole all the limelight. The ad is on YouTube, watch it now, and it caused a huge sensation back then. She completely made Mahima look irrelevant, yet years later Mahima walked away with the award. Aish realised that things aren't handed to you on a platter, you are given a break if you're lucky, but the challenge is to work your arse off to avoid the quick fall downhill.

It was also that Pepsi commercial that prompted Aish to take part in the Femina Miss India contest. As soon as people heard that the hot girl 'Sanjana' from the Pepsi ad was entering the pageant, it was said that a lot of girls withdrew their applications because they thought she was easily going to win. Ironically, even Sushmita said she did so, but her mom made her re-send her forms.

But we all know what happened. Perhaps the pressure got too much for Aish, or was it the immense hype on overload and too much expectation? Sush wowed the judges and was the underdog and walked away with the crown at the very end (their scores were at a draw, had to tie-break).

So you can see that Aish felt like she had something to prove. Not only to the world but to herself.

She might look like just a pretty face but she is such a strong lady internally. To carry that much weight on her shoulders for now 19 years and not crumble is not easy. Look at the likes of Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston - they all fell and fell hard. Not Aish, thanks to her powerful mind and self determination and focus.

She is to be admired. I'm sure years after her time, she will get her due and will be revered as a Marilyn Monroe of her generation.

Back to the topic at hand... Aish returned in 1999 with one film that said every thing to her detractors and more. Much much much more!

Her portrayal of Nandini in 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' was nothing short of sensational. I remember sitting in the theatre at only 13 years old, yet being completely spellbound by her beauty and talent lighting up the screen. She was nothing like I'd ever seen before. Yes I'd seen the green eyes and fair skin on the likes of Mandakini (who is also referenced in the movie by Salman) but I was used to the earthy divas such as Madhuri, Sridevi and Kajol moving me with their histrionics. But how could a "beauty queen" emote like that? It is true, good looks do take away from one's appreciation to some extent. I left the hall thinking only one thing "that was magical".

So I guess my theory is that Aish reached heights no other actress has because she was knocked down and she fought. Her setbacks sparked something inside her that was so empowering. She fought hard to prove herself. She was thirsty for it. She was hungry. Like a tigress!

Yes it is true that some of her performances have been terrible (Dhoom 2, Bride & Prejudice, ) but what can I say, she's only human. And it's down to the director to a degree. SLB really did bring out the best in her. I think I see what he sees in her.

I must sound like her biggest die hard fan, but I'm not. I just admire what I've seen from her over the years. I just LOVE the way she carries herself.

I remember vividly her reaction to the whole weight gain saga. "There is so much more of love out there" she said so nonchalantly "the haters are just a drop in the ocean".

I applaud that!

Aishwarya Rai has been on a great journey as a beauty queen, an actress, an ambassadress - as a girl, a woman, and a mother. Aishwarya Rai is an Inspiration and an Icon. Too many haters spurting abuse at her all over the internet daily - but to them I can say only one thing: It says more about you than it does about her, or anyone else for that matter.

I didn't mean to write an essay, but I think I've been able to articulate what I wanted to say pretty well for anyone that manages to read this thing!

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This is the BEST essay I have read on this Forum. While I don't agree with a lot of what you said, I admire your ability to defend an actress without defaming another. So kudos to you! 👏

I actually responded with a LONG ESSAY myself last night...haha...but my Internet connection got lost just as I was posting it, and hence here is another version of my response.

[quote]But we all know what happened. Perhaps the pressure got too much for Aish, or was it the immense hype on overload and too much expectation? [/quote]

How about because Sush WAS better that night? It irks me when I hear people say that the only reason Sush won is because Ash had a 'bad day', and trust me, I have heard it tons of times. I completely disagree. Hold the same contest again today, and I guarantee that Sush will still win. And this is not smug arrogance. Sush's countenance on stage, especially with a mike in front of her, is peerless. The ONLY actress who can give her SOME competition is the other Miss Universe from India - Lara Dutta.

Like Karan Johar put it while introducing Sush on his show: "She can actually turn you on with just her conversation..." That's Sush - truly the DIVA!!!!

So, no, I don't think Ash lost because she was burdened with too much expectation or pressure. Simply put, she was bested by someone better than her, at the very least on that day.

In Sush's eloquent words when Johar asked her what she thought of her performance that fateful day, does she ever look compare herself to Ash and did she deserve to win, "Yes. I deserved to win. But I don't compare myself to Aishwarya's performance. I think she was fabulous on stage. I do believe in two things: One is that THAT night I was my best. Not that I was better than someone else. I was at MY best. And second that I think I was slightly luckier than everyone else that night. My shooting star went right over my head. It was not just my hard work because there were 20 to 30 other girls who put equal or more hard work. It was also that dash of luck that I think I had!!!"

What a lovely response. How can you not love this woman? 😳

Also, I know Ash is BEAUTIFUL in that she has the perfect eyes, nose and cheekbones. But I still find Sush more attractive. In my opinion, Ash lacks a certain charm that has prevented her from becoming one of the best actresses despite being beautiful, a good dancer and starring in some very good movies!!!!!

[quote]So I guess my theory is that Aish reached heights no other actress has[/quote]

I definitely disagree. There are much better actresses who have given much more memorable and more consistent performances. You said Ash was bad in certain films...in my eyes, she was good in only certain films. There is no consistency in her performances at all.

Often, I wonder if the woman in HDDCS was someone else because no way can Ash EVER replicate what I too consider was her best performance. Yes, I thought she was annoying in the first half because she has no comic timing, but she was fantabulous in the second!!!!! The other two movies I loved her in were Guru, because of her quiet dignity, and Kandukonden Kandukonden, just because of the way she LOOKED and was presented.

These films apart, she has not impressed me in a single other film, including Devdas, Provoked or even Raincoat. Ash has this amazing ability to narrow her eyes and look darn innocent while the camera roves around her, drinking every contour, which STUNS the viewers. The movies in which she has given the best performances have also been directed by men who UNDERSTAND the POWER of her beauty, such as SLB or Mani Ratnam.

As for being a global ambassadress, I have no idea why she got that tag. Apart from pledging to donate her eyes like 20 years ago, she hasn't made any worthy contribution. Her Cannes appearances are just another way to promote her Loreal brand. I doubt she is there for her expertise in cinema!!!! Her performances in those Hollywood movies were very bad, while her interviews on the U.S. talk shows was poor (of course, I will give her the benefit of doubt here because it IS intimidating to give a live interview in front of a foreign audience)

[quote]She might look like just a pretty face but she is such a strong lady internally. To carry that much weight on her shoulders for now 19 years and not crumble is not easy. Look at the likes of Britney Spears, Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston - they all fell and fell hard. Not Aish, thanks to her powerful mind and self determination and focus.[/quote]

I think Indian women, in general, are strong. They have strong family ties and friends who are willing to support them during their lull periods. All the examples you offered are from some other culture. Yes, certain celebrities have crashed and burnt out in Bollywood too, but there are exceptions to every rule. But where was Ash's strength when she left VO all alone to mope? I will not believe that she didn't instigate him; and if she didn't instigate him, she should have most definitely stopped him from making a complete fool of herself; and even if she didn't stop him, she should have given ONE statement of support saying that VO did this out of his unconditional love for her. She did NOTHING, and her character will forever tainted in my eyes because of the way she treated this man.

Since this is a topic about Sush, I will talk about her now. So what if she didn't scale huge heights as an actress, she is extremely strong. She is the STRONGEST woman in the industry, in my opinion.

• It takes strength to make mistakes, but still learn from them and regroup all by yourself;
• it takes strength to keep your head held high when most of your contemporaries snub you for winning over the 'more popular prom queen.';
• it takes strength and courage to raise two babies without a man (yes, in our culture where men still dominate, it takes strength to be a single mother);
• it takes strength to watch your life go to pieces and still not break (when Sush realized her acting career was on a downslide, she didn't mope or suck up to big stars. She started her own company, which is doing GREAT!!!).
• It takes strength to always play second fiddle to another beauty queen, but never bitch about that person!!! Despite winning the Miss India and Miss UNiverse contests, Sush has forever remained in the shadow of her more popular contemporary. It's like people just do not want to believe or give credit to Sen at all!!! A weaker person would have bitched and moaned about this unfairness. But Sush has been one of the strongest supporters of Aishwarya Rai. It takes strength to not be regarded as one of the best in your field, and still never be insecure.

I am proud of ya, Sush!

Regarding Sush's acting career, I don't believe she lost out on films because of her laziness. I believe she lost out on films because she didn't fit the mold of a 'stereotypical' woman in Bollywood. She is a breath of fresh air that this industry just didn't know how to handle. And when she tried fitting herself into this industry's norms,such as by playing a naive wife in Kyunki Main Jhoot Nahin Bolta, she looked STUPID because that was so unlike her. I am not saying she is a GREAT actress. No, she is a very raw performer, but she is a STRONG performer with charm and, more importantly, a heart!!!!! People remember Ash's HDDCS, Devdas and Chokher Bali; they don't remember Sush's Filhaal, Samay and Vaastu Shastra. Why? Because they were flops? Sush was equally good, if not better, in these movies as she portrayed roles that displayed an inner strength and integrity. Hell, forget acting, no actress has looked more fetching in a sari than Sush in Main Hoon Na, and she is generally not known for her Indian attires!!!

I just believe that Sush was given the raw deal because she wasn't good in the kind of films that audience wants to see their heroines in. But times are changing, and I am still hopeful that there will be this one director who understands Sush's appeal and gifts her the role of a lifetime, which will definitely put her back on the top, where she belongs.

[quote] but to them I can say only one thing: It says more about you than it does about her, or anyone else for that matter.[/quote]

A very good quote, but every celebrity has haters, and I can use this on anyone!!! I don't believe Ash is any more special than someone else.

Overall, I guess our opinions are subjective. You see something in Ash that I don't. I see something in Sush that you don't. But I will end with just one example to highlight their differences as performers:

1. Take Ash's Umrao Jaan: A role of a lifetime for ANY actress, especially one with the beauty, grace and dancing skill of Ash!!! She could have made a legend out of this character for the second time in the history of Bollywood. What happened? Nothing'the movie fizzled because while she had the physical beauty, she lacked an 'ada.' This wasn't a movie where innocent expressions would do the deal; she had to depict sensuality, strength and spontaneity, but her body language was completely dry.
2. Take Sush's performance in Chilman from Kisma: She is not a classical dancer, by any means. But listen to her dialogue delivery before the song and her charisma while she dances. Her movements are mediocre, her 'ada' is eye-catching!!! I just believe that she is MADE for the big screen like very few actresses are, but, sadly, has gone underutilized and unnoticed.

I won't take anything away from Ash's success. I think any successful person deserves to be successful, but I just don't think she deserves to be anointed over others, especially when there are equally or more talented performers than her!!!! But, again, this is a subjective opinion, completely. I know several who believe she is the best actress ever. So, I guess, beauty and talent and everyone lies in the eyes of the beholder! haha

Anyway, I totally respect your opinions, and I know a member who is as lucid as you will respect mine.

Originally posted by: sweet coco

Sush said that in an interview the reason is b/c she doesn't like to work as much as Aishu does. Aishu is a workaholic and Sush doesn't like to devote too much of her life to such hectic schedules. But Sush was able to adopt 2 children and do so much philanthropic work b/c of working less in BW--so I could that success too...she's accomplished a lot too.

Originally posted by: koiza.k

Sush is a much much better actor than aish anyday! watch her in ankhein, samay and especially filhaal; what a natural performer! and also see her in comedies like biwi no 1 or MPKK she nails it! she has versatility and spark where as aish has been nothing but monotonous in almost every movie of hers!

Sushmita is also more beautiful imo and her personality is magnetic! when she talks you listen, she has such omph and confidence in what she says. Aish is plain trash especially when it comes to talking, watch kwk and notice how shallow her personality is!

Its just sad aish became a bigger star but that doesnot say sush is less than her! coz we know what it takes to make a big star in india. Aish was always famous for her relationship news, especially that chapter with salman brought her in news big time, sush has not so famous boyfriends on the other hand! also we know most of the audience just like seeing conventional pretty faces and aish had an edge there! but sushmita is a star anyday infront of aish, she shines!!