A super model in India, Aishwarya Rai made her debut in cinema with Maniratnam’s Iruvar [Tamil] alongside a star studded cast comprising of Mohan Lal, Prakash Raj, Revathi, Gouthami and many others. Her second movie, which was her debut in Hindi was opposite Bobby Deol in Aur Pyar Ho Gaya. In spite of the beauteous belle, the movie bombed in the box office. However, her subsequent films Jeans [Tamil], Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam [Hindi] and Taal [Hindi], were critical and commercial hits and Ash proved she was here to stay. She a bagged a Film Fare Award for Shankar’s Jeans and one for Dil De Chupke Sanam in which she starred with Salman Khan and Ajay Devagan. Her popularity in the southern states grew with her role in Rajiv Menon’s Kandukonden Kandukonden.

Ash dazzled her audiences with her scintillating performance in Sanjay Leela Bansali’s Devdas with Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit. And she set the screen on fire with her hot new look in Dhoom 2 opposite Hrithik Roshan. Mani Ratnam’s Guru with Abi Bachchan won critical acclaim the world over. And by now she had already acted in a hand full of English movies, that did better abroad rather than on home grounds. She played the lead in Bride and Prejudice [the Indian adaptation of Jane Austin’s Bride and Prejudice], The Last Legion, The Mistress of Spices and Provoked and will feature in a movie based on the love story behind the Taj Mahal.

Recently, Ash Rai tied the knot with Abhishek Bachchan but that has in no way affected her fan following! She continues to be the sweetheart of the masses. Today is this stunning beauty’s birthday and Galatta.com wishes her a lovely day and an amazing year ahead!