Biography :
| Full Name : |
|
| Born : |
|
| Family : |
|
| Height : |
|
| Education : |
|
| Ash Whole Biography is covered here in as Interview |
|
She's the world's most beautiful girl. You think this is extravagant? But if you come to know that she is Aishwarya Rai, you will believe it, won't you? |
| Would she become Miss World without that? She's the first Indian girl to bag the Miss World pageant! No wonder such a beautiful girl gets offers for movies. All 'big' producers have asked Aishwarya to work in their films. She accepted Mani Ratnam's 'Iruvar', Rahul Rawail's 'Aur Pyar ho Gaya' and Shankar's 'Jeans' and came on the silver screen as a 'Hindi film actress'. The movies did not work well, but Aishwarya's beauty was praised everywhere. And in a short while she stabilised in the film industry. Today she is working with Subhash Ghai, Rajkumar Santoshi, Mansoor Khan, Rishi Kapoor, Sanjay Bhansali, Anees, and Dipak Sareen etc. famous directors. |
| I first met Aishwarya, on the sets of 'Radhesham Sitaram'. Aishwarya was talking very freely. Aishwarya had a touch of 'Miss World' in her talk and nature, but still there was no showiness of being 'Miss World'. Till that time, her two films Iruvar and Aur Pyar ho Gaya had been released and flopped. |
| I asked her, "getting the huge success and praise due to the pageant and just after that the unsuccessful release of Iruvar and Aur Pyar ho Gaya, are two diametrically opposite experiences. How did you cope up?" Aishwarya laughed and said, "Aur Pyar...flopped, but at least the people have noticed me. Nobody said that my work was bad! There are so many reasons for a film to flop. Nobody ever said that it flopped because of me! Aur Pyar...'s premier could not take place. So I went to a theatre to see it. I felt very nice on seeing the common man's response. It was an altogether different experience. My role in Iruvar was completely different. That film was released before Aur Pyar.... There were many significant and insignificant characters in that. My role was a nice one, but to say that it was 'my film' is not quite correct. But from my point of view, to work with a director like Mani Ratnam, was a nice experience." On asking, "what did you feel on seeing yourselves for the first time on the screen?" Aishwarya replied, " I have a photographic memory! I recall everything regarding that particular scene. I mean, when I see the film first time, I only recollect what incidents took place while shooting, where we shot it, how much and how it was shot. Next time I see the movie, I watch how much of it has been cut, how much remains, how does my character feel. The third time I find out how other characters are, how other co-stars have acted. But the fourth time. I take an overview of the complete movie, and what impact does it make. So while seeing the movie for the first time, I mostly recollect what happened during shooting, and since I have acted in ads, there was nothing much new to see myself on the screen." |
| I could not talk much on that day. So we decided to meet again the next day, but the next day was busier than the previous. Aishwarya had no time to talk. So the meeting was postponed. |
| After that, about 6-7 months later, we met in RK studios during the shooting of 'Aa Ab Laut Chale'. Ash told me "you were going to meet me earlier. What happened?" I told her, "I had come, but you were so busy that you had no time to talk." She replied "oh no! I am really sorry! There was a lot of tension that day. I have to work very hard in that movie because I have a double role. I am really very sorry, now we will meet in leisure." That day, under the direction of Saroj Khan, a song was being shot. Aishwarya came back after a shot. She said, "while dancing when I put myself in the hands of Saroj, I feel very confident. She doesn't praise anybody for no reason. If something's bad, she will tell that it's bad. And she makes you work hard till it becomes good. We need not worry. I can't believe that I have become an actress under the RK banner. Working with Rishi Kapoor is a different experience. He is himself a very nice actor. Which is why he knows exactly how to make actors work. I have very close relations with that family. They are very nice people. I feel very proud that I am an actress under the RK banner." she was talking for some more time about her role. She casually mentioned her future schedule. She said, "after that for about three months I am going for outdoor shooting. Even if I come to Mumbai for a day, I will have to go again the next day. But we will meet before that. You phone anytime. After calling, it was decided to meet on film city's helipad on the sets of Sanjay Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. It was a shift of 7:00 in the evening. "Come at 7:30 - 8:00 so that we can talk" Ash had told me, so I went there at about that time. Helipad is film city's highest spot. There was a huge and beautiful set of a 'haveli'... Aishwarya was doing some make-up. Since she was doing the make-up of a bride, it would take some time. ... At last, at about 10:30, in the form of a bride, Aishwarya climbed the stairs of the 'haveli' and came up. Promptly she said," sorry, sorry, but I was not informed about the 'mehendi' and all other stuff. I could not do anything while those women were applying 'mehendi'. And this dress! I will never marry with such a dress on. No! Impossible!" |
| It was about 10:30 when the rehearsal for the shot started and it was impossible to speak at such a time. Since I was returning so late, Aishwarya was a bit worried. "Will you go safely? I will tell my driver to take you to a taxi." What polite words and what feeling of responsibility! Next day on the phone I asked, "how was your marriage ceremony?" She laughed "my God! How do they marry in such clothes?" Now she had some shooting in Mansoor Khan's Josh at Film City. And it was to go on for many days. So it was decided to meet there. |
| When I reached on the set, it was very hot. Aishwarya's face had reddened due to working in such intense heat. She told me, "you go and sit in the van, I am coming." She came after the shot. She was completely wet with perspiration. I asked her, "don't you get tired due to working in such heat?" She said, "of course I do. But what can I do? My brother had once come to my set. On seeing me working in such conditions, he was shocked. He said, 'how do you work in such heat?' We are not too rich, still being middle class family, there were all necessary facilities in our house from the beginning. It was not habitual to work so hard. Naturally, he was quite shocked. But now I have got accustomed to all this." |
| "My dad's a marine engineer. Now he has his own business. My brother's also a marine engineer. He is on his ship. Earlier mother used to teach in a small children's school. But after I became 'Miss World', she resigned from her job." Aishwarya said. |
| "Our native place is Mangalore. But even though I have born in Mangalore, my whole life has passed in Bombay only. I studied in Juhu's Aarya Vidya Mandir ; in eleventh, I was in Jayahind college, I did my twelfth from Ruparel college. I had gone to Xavier's college for a week. I had chosen life science subject after 12th. I had 90% marks in 12th. I had to decide whether to go to medical field or architecture. I had applied for architecture in J J school of arts and Rachana institute. I took admission in Rachana institute. For about one and a half-year, I was studying architecture in Rachana institute. In the first one and a half months only, I understood that my decision was perfect. I loved studying architecture from my heart." |
| "After 12th I started modelling. I had not made any portfolio, etc. so, nobody had seen my photos, but my name was passed on from one to another and so on. This went on and I was in the discussion. I got calls from a lot of people, I denied all of them at that time. There were long holidays of 3 months after 12th exam. During that period, I made an ad for Jalal Aaga for prudent mouthwash. I was supposed to be one in the crowd, but at the final moment, I was made the lead girl from the crowd. That was my first ad!" |
| "There is a common concept that, the easiest way of getting into movies is modelling. But I did not want to work in movies at all. At that time, Yash Chopra, Shekhar Kapoor, and others offered me some films, but I denied all of them. Not only that, those ad guys also knew that I was more interested in architecture." |
| "I was going to do Palmolive ad. The screen test was done. Price was fixed. The contract was signed, and I told them, 'but I have my exams.' it was to end on 3rd Nov 93. I told them, 'I will shoot after my exams.' Everybody called me a fool. They said, 'aren't you a professional model?' But from my point of view, my exams were more important. Later on the ad guys called me and asked, we are planning to have a shift on 3rd Nov at 2:00pm. Will you come?" Aishwarya halted for a moment, then laughed and said, "in fact, for studying during my exams, I used to get up everyday at 5:00am. I used to be up all the time. I was in no mood to do this shooting just after my exams, but there was no other choice. I went there, shot the ad, and instantly, I became the 'Palmolive girl'. But that was the longest shift in my life!" |
| "After that, with Pralhad Kakkar, I did the Pepsi ad . In that, Ritu Choudhari, i.e. Mahima was also there. She had come from Delhi. In that ad, Amir khan was the 'star'. I had to say only 'Hi, I am Sanju. Got another Pepsi?' To give me the clue, Amir himself stood in front of me. I used to like him as an actor, but on learning that he himself is giving the clue, I was a bit nervous. For that one sentence, I had to give 15 retakes. I was so ashamed! But Amir was still standing there all the time, encouraging me." |
| "1994 was really 'my year'. In Jan 94, I was selected runners up in Miss India. The girl, who comes first, goes for Miss Universe, the second for Miss World, and the third for Miss Asia pacific. As a matter of fact, in our country, saying first, second, third makes no difference, but in foreign countries, it makes a lot of a difference. They think quickly, 'hey, she's a runner up and still how come she's here?' which is why I advised the organisers here, that you should change the way you give the title." Ash's point should really be given due consideration. |
| 'Tell me more about Miss World event.' Aishwarya said, "I celebrated my 21st birthday in South Africa's Sun City. I had gone there for Miss World pageant. 19 Nov 94 was my 21st birthday. Before me there were a few celebrations of birthdays of some other girls. We had formed a nice group of girls from different countries. But on my birthday, nobody seemed to remember my birthday. There was no cake, party, etc. I was feeling very uneasy. I was feeling lonely. I could not concentrate on anything. Since we had celebrated other girls' birthdays, I was expecting something, but I remained silent. Later on we had rehearsals of our songs. In the morning, everybody was given her lines. I had not even seen that chit properly. I did not even notice that I had not been given a chit. I went for the rehearsal, and after 'one, two, three', everybody in one tone said, 'happy birthday to you'. They sang it in English, Spanish, South African and every other language, and it was as if the whole world was giving me birthday wishes! I was shocked and overjoyed. Instantly, a cake was brought. I went back to my room, and the room was filled with flowers! I felt very special! Later on all day, there were phone calls, and everybody was greeting me. They all had planned to surprise me." |
| "Then, when the final round took place, and I was selected Miss World, a crown of Miss World was placed on my head. Till that time, I had not realised it properly, but when I was 'marching' on the stage, I realised that all Indians are watching me on TV! I could not believe it! The sense that the whole country was looking at me with pride made me cry! Already Shushmita had bagged the Miss Universe title the same year. Nobody expected to get another title in the same year! Which is why, everybody was shocked." Aishwarya was telling honestly. |
| "For one year, you keep the title, and you have to do a lot of things according to their contract. Some charity shows, some ads, a lot of things. During that period they provide you with a chaperone. He is always with you. He helps you with all your work. But I had denied that. I am a simple girl. And I love to lead a simple life. So why develop such habits for that one year? After returning the title you feel the absence of all such facilities! So, even after becoming Miss World, I was living just as simply as I was before. In England my landlady used to speak just as much as needed, but after she learned that, I do all my things myself, I iron my clothes myself, and go everywhere alone, she started liking me. She used to talk freely with me after that, and we developed a nice friendship." "I worked a lot that year, and enjoyed a lot, too. I really enjoyed that year completely. I raised a lot of money for social activities. England has said 'on record' that, "Aishwarya is the best Miss World"! And I am really proud of that." Aishwarya's tone reflected a worthy pride. "But I never forgot that all this is for one year only. I did not get carried away with all that. I had always kept it in mind that I have to give away the title after one year, so I did not feel much when I gave it back. Since I purposefully did not get used to that praise nor to the comfort, I could lead a normal life after one year." Aishwarya's words reflected the truth. |
| I told her, 'but since you were completely rejecting movies during modelling, how come you again came back to movies?' Ash laughed. "I had got a lot of offers after becoming Miss World. I had to take a lot of decisions. To live in India or abroad, to complete my education or concentrate on my career, to work or not in films, the most important thing is that, I am a homebird. I can't live away from my house for long . Which is why, there was no question of staying in another country, and if I wanted to live here, then for how long could I do modelling? I had no other choice but to work in movies!" Ash halted for a moment. "The reason for this was also similar. After that one year of Miss World, I was felicitated in our college, Rachana institute. So, I sensed that everybody was eyeing me differently as "Aishwarya Rai". The earlier 'normal' climate was lost." "First of all, since I had a lot of assignments that year, it was difficult for me to go to college for that year. After going, I would have to sit with my juniors. Then I thought that if my professors behave nicely with me, I would always be suspicious that are they behaving so just because I have become Miss World? I could not even tolerate that thought. If people in my college can't behave with me as they used to do before, then how can I expect so at other places? I will always remain "Aishwarya Rai" at all other places. Because of becoming Miss World, my whole life had changed You remain busy for that one year. But what after that? I always used to think about it. Even if I do modelling for some years, after that?" "Even before giving back my Miss World title, I had got an offer from Mani Ratnam. Rahul Rawail's, Mansoor Khan's and other's offers were coming. Then, I thought, if I am getting so nice offers, why shouldn't I act? And then I accepted movies like Mani Ratnam's Iruvar and Rahul Rawail's Aur Pyar ho Gaya" |
| "But I never signed any type of contract with anybody. Not even with Mani Ratnam! He himself told me, "I am not launching you. You are meant to come to films! You are nobody's 'discovery'". Till now, everything is going on smoothly with me." |
| I had a double role in Mani Ratnam's Iruvar. I played a very simple and non-glamorous character. I had used dark lenses in it. This movie had a political background. Mohanlal's first wife passes away. After many years, he sees a young girl who looks exactly like her. He is attracted towards her, and marries her. Both quite different roles. There were many other characters in the film. On the other hand, Rahul Rawail's Aur Pyar Ho Gaya was a typical debut movie. My character in it was simple, yet glamorous. |
| "Both these films were unsuccessful, didn't you feel bad?" She replied, "I feel bad because of unsuccessful movies, but I don't get dejected. Because, I have learnt a lesson in childhood. I was a brilliant girl in my school days. Everybody was expecting that I will score in my 10th exams. I myself was expecting a lot. But, I did not score well comparatively. I was very sad. I cried a lot. After that, I decided not to expect much from anything. I am benefiting from that experience now." |
| "How do you accept movies?" She said, "I think about 5 things. Story, director, my role, the movie's set-up, and my instinct! All five are important. Today I get offers from a lot of big banners, all successful directors are asking me, but I can't work with everybody! Whatever my desires, but practically, it is just impossible. I have to deny somebody!" "After accepting the movie, I don't just look at my role. A movie is teamwork. Which is why, I think of the complete movie. I never give attention to things such as: is my role long, how many dialogues do I have, are my dialogues more important than others', etc. While doing a scene, if necessary, I myself tell to cut off some of my dialogues. On the sets of Aa Ab Laut Chale, once there were some repetitions of dialogues. Rishi Kapoor asked me whether he should cut some of my dialogues. I told him that I had no objection at all. You are the director. What is important from the point of view of the movie, you know better. Go ahead. Do anything you wish.' He was staring at me in disbelief. 'You are a fool! Nobody does so. How are you ready to cut your dialogues just because I asked so?'" I told her, 'People always take advantages of such things. It's OK with Rishi. He is a sensible director. You can't trust everybody. You won't even know what happened to your role!" "You are quite right. Rajkumar Santoshi told me the same thing. I am doing a Rajkumar Santoshi film for 'tips'. During talks about that, Rajkumar Santoshi and I talked on this subject also." Then the subject of 'Jeans' came up. The movie, showing Seven Wonders of the World in a single song, and made with a big budget of 20 crores, flopped completely. Even though the movie did well in South, yet the Hindi audience did not like this dubbed film at all. I asked Ash, "Why didn't the producers-directors take another hero for the Hindi version?" Ash was completely silent for some time. Then she said, "It is not right for me to speak on this subject. But since the topic has come up, I am telling you. When Jeans started, I was new. I was doing 'Iruvar', APHG and Jeans, three movies at a time. I once told them 'Why don't you take a Hindi star for the Hindi version?' But they did not agree. Then, I also did not insist much on this topic. Because, actually I was not talking against Prashant at all. I had made the suggestion regarding Hindi film's market. But, I could not tell much as I was myself quite new. I had a double role in Jeans. I mean, in fact I was only one, yet I was playing simultaneously the role of two twin sisters since there was the condition that the two twin brothers should be married to two twin sisters only. One of them is a normal common college going girl, and the other is a rather old fashioned one speaking Hindi mixed with a bit of Sanskrit. It was great fun doing Jeans. Another point is that, the producers never ever tried to cut down the expenses. Normally, when the movie is coming to an end of shooting, the producers' money also ends. Then, the budget is constantly cut down. But here, it was quite opposite. Here, the producers spent more if the need be, but never less. Which is why, the unit was always happy." |
| I will tell you a funny incident. Now, we laugh on hearing it, but I was quite tense at that time. We were shooting the 'seven wonders' song. It was shot in different countries at different locations. The whole unit used to stay in a nearby village. We used to get up early and go to the location. After shooting all day, we would return to our village. The location was quite far away. I used to go after all the make-up. Only the dress that was needed was taken along. Since we had to shoot strictly according to timetable, there was no need to take more dresses. That day, we all went to the location. Director Shankar quickly told me to get ready. I told him that I will be ready in 10 minutes. All I had to do was, to change the dress. I went to change the dress and found out that it was very tight. During 'trial', it was very loose, so I had told the dress designer to tighten it a bit. But I had no notion that he will tighten it so much. I was in a fix. Now what could I do at this eleventh hour? I had not brought another dress. It was impossible to bring it from our staying place, since the whole day would be lost in going back and coming again. We had to complete our work in 2 days. I was on the verge of crying. There was no margin left to make it loose again. I could not think anything. I had told that I would be ready in 10 minutes. The make-up was already done. Yet, why was I taking so long, the director wondered, and this made him angry. I was getting a lot of messages from him. I told my hairdresser to go out and look what was the colour of Prashant's dress. He was wearing a yellow coloured dress. Then, after a lot of searching, I found a yellow 'dupatta' (odhni). I wound it around both my shoulders. Then I took many pins and literally stitched it over my body. I had a magenta coloured maxi below. The original blouse was beaj coloured. But it was not fitting me at all. The yellow coloured dupatta was looking nice on the magenta colour. But if I had not got it, I would be facing a huge problem. Somehow I managed to get ready and went to shoot. Nobody came to know the problem with my dress. The shooting was done, and we went to our village. Now there was another big problem. The next day, I had to shoot in the same dress again. Now how could I remove the dupatta, which was made to look like a blouse after inserting a hundred pins? Because if I remove it, it was impossible to have it done again exactly the same way. At last, with no other option, I somehow went to sleep. Everybody asked, 'What's this? Won't you change?' What could I say? I somehow managed that time. The next day, I could not even have a bath. For me, work is worship. I normally never start working without having a bath. But that day I was forced to shoot like that. I can never forget this incident in my whole life." Ash paused for a moment. Then laughed and said, "The funny thing is that, after the trial, many people complemented me for this very dress. The cameraman later told me, 'It was good you did the yellow-magenta combination. It was an aerial shooting. The beaj colour would have mixed up with the colour of earth, and that would not have looked proper.' In short, that day was torrid for me, but whatever happens, happens for the best!" |
| "After you denied 'Rajshri's 'Hum Saath Saath Hain', there were quite a few comments about you. It was said that since there were three actresses already, you denied it.' "Had it been that way, I would never have done Mani Ratnam's Iruvar." Ash snapped. There were a lot of other characters in that movie, and I had a small role. I never think about such things. I would have certainly liked to do a Rajshri film. But, others had already booked the dates they wanted. It was not befitting my principles to disturb their schedules and do a Rajshri movie. Sooraj Badjatya had already told me the script. He waited for nearly two weeks. He told me, if your dates are changed then let me know. But other schedules were fixed. I had no other choice than to deny Soorajji. I felt very bad. But what could I do? On the other hand, Soorajji praised me a lot for this incidence. He told me, "Don't feel bad. I too would have liked to work with you. But from the way you work, I really praise you. There are very few people who work like this, and keep their word." |
| I asked her, whether it was true that he had assured her that she would be the solo star in his forthcoming movie. Ash laughed and said, "Yes, at least now he has said so. To tell you the truth, after denying Soorajji I was a bit confused. Did I make a mistake, or was it right? Because I got calls from Yash Chopra, and Salman and everybody called me a fool. But then I thought that it is not right to disturb other movies for one movie. Which means, my decision was the right one. And I have denied other directors also. Indu Irani had asked me for a role opposite to Aamir Khan in the movie 'Mann'. Rahul Rawail's new film, Priyadarshan is remaking 'Chandralekha', and other lot of movies I denied because of dates. I lose good movies, good characters. But what can I do?" |
| "There's no guarantee, as to when, and due to what there will be misunderstandings. Many a times, interviews not given are printed, and later on those people phone and tell 'sorry'. What's the point in telling 'sorry' afterwards? My and Manisha's disagreement has also been created by these reporters in the same way. In fact, when they asked me about Manisha, then I told, "I won't speak anything. I do not wish to speak anything." At that time somebody else, who was present there, said something and those words were put into my mouth and the interview was printed. That created the future clash. Then Jackie said something about me. Later on, he came to know that I had not spoken a thing about Manisha. Which is why, he felt like a criminal. He began to keep me away. Things like these give a lot of problems. When I was going to the very first outdoor shooting of Aa Ab Laut Chale, I knew that by the time I would return, (false) news of my and Akshay's affair would have spread everywhere! I have learnt not to pay heed to such things now." |
| Then we took up the subject of her upcoming movies. "In Aa Ab Laut Chale, I am playing the role of a girl who is inclined towards Indian culture & Indian thoughts. In Sanjay Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, my role is very nice. In that the transition from a young girl to a woman is shown very nicely. Some moments from it are very tender and very touching. I am opposite to Salman and Ajay Devgan. On it's set, we always talk with each other and discuss about making our role better. In Subhash Ghai's Taal, I am opposite to Akshay Khanna and Anil Kapoor. In Anees's Radheysham Sitaram, I am opposite to Sunil Shetty. I have got a double role in that movie. It's a comedy movie. In Deepak Sareen's 'Albela', I am working with Jackie Shroff, Govinda and Namrata Shirodkar. I am doing a movie with Rajkumar Santoshi for tips. I am again working with Sunil Shetty in 'Hum Panchi Ek Daal Ke.' In Mansoor Khan's 'Josh' Chandrachur Singh is my opposite and Shahrukh Khan is my brother. Everybody's role in this movie is very nice.' Ash stopped for a moment and said, "But I really want to do a movie like 'Mandi'" |
| 'You have donated your eyes, I have heard', I said. Ash said, "That's true. People know me more because of my eyes. So, I decided to donate my eyes. But before that, I acquired all the information about the campaign. Within what time after death one has to donate eyes, and all other information. Only then I decided to donate my eyes. It's not that just for doing something, I donated my eyes. I found that useful so I did it. I like to do social service from my heart. Whatever is possible I do, but I don't speak of that. But I would like to give more time to it in the near future." |
| So this is Aishwarya Rai. In spite of staying in all the glamour of Hindi films, she maintains her distinct identity, living in social circle, simple, and yet, "Miss World". |
| Original source: "LockPrabha" magazine, issue dated 4 Sep, 1998 |