One of the most beautiful people in the world, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has turned 45 today. Ever since she won the Miss World crown in 1994, Aishwarya’s style statements have been followed by millions across the globe.
Be it cosmetic brand advertisements or soda commercials, the blue-eyed Aishwarya Rai was everywhere while growing up in the 90s (and early 2000s). The Sanjay Leela Bhansali 1999 film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam only added to the hysteria by giving screen time to her romance with Salman Khan. Aishwarya's infectious smile and an otherworldly charm had become a yardstick for grace.
She went on to mesmerise us with Taal and Josh at the turn of the millenium and as a result, went from the heartthrob to a household name. Later that year, Mohabbatein was a testimony to how she could take the big screens by storm despite as tiny an appearance. Aishwarya, by the end of the year 2000, was a phenomenon. Then Devdas came in just at the right time and the attention was back to her charm. The beauty queen had done it again. Like a crafty sorceress, she had cast her spell again on us with her slithering moves in Dola Re Dola and a sultry show in Silsila Ye Chahat Ka.
She won the Filmfare for her role and took her first steps on the road to becoming a truly global superstar. The years that followed might have seen a certain Vivek Oberoi-Salman public spat and various low-key films, but Aishwarya was back to her hottest in Dhoom 2 opposite Hrithik Roshan. (And how can we forget Kajra Re!). The same film though led to her falling in love with Abhishek Bachchan who she went on to marry in 2007, breaking many hearts across the nation. As soon as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan got married to Abhishek Bachchan, while some were worried about her acting career, Aish proved all the critics wrong.
From managing her work commitments to personal life- making sure she spends ample time with hubby, takes frequent vacations with the family and watches kabaddi matches rooting for Abhishek’s team, Aishwarya has proved why there is no one like her. But the plain fact that none of us even batted an eyelid to watch the now mother-of-one in the sexy seductress avatar in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil last year proves that this generation will forever be obsessed with Aishwarya. On her 45th birthday (Nov 1), here’s raising a toast to Aishwarya Rai (Bachchan), the real beauty queen and undoubtedly every 90s kid’s hugest crush!