Says popular film critic Taran Adarsh: "Aishwarya's career graph has been very good though not excellent but she is the only actress who can attract national and international crowds. She is the face of so many international brands and a very good actress also."
London-based Indian filmmaker Jagmohan Mundhra, who directed the actress in the critically acclaimed English movie "Provoked", also credits her as a superstar with an international appeal.
"She is a superstar. Not only is she a recognised name worldwide; she is a totally bankable star. My personal experience with her from 'Provoked' says that the film wouldn't have worked without her.
"The best thing about her is that despite her stature, she is completely a director's actor. She would also give her inputs in the character and would never come back to see a shot once the director approves it. She is thoroughly professional," Mundhra added.
Aishwarya, now married to Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, was born in Mangalore to Krishnaraj Rai, a marine biologist, and Vrinda Rai, a writer.
After winning the Miss World crown in 1994, Aishwarya took to acting in 1997 with a Tamil film "Iruvar" opposite southern superstar Mohanlal and made her Bollywood debut in the same year opposite Bobby Deol in "Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya". Both films bombed.
In the following year, she won her first Filmfare Best Actress award South for the Tamil film "Jeans" but became an overnight star with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" in 1999. She bagged the Filmfare Best Actress award for this too.
0