The many faces of Ash

From a village belle to a passionate lover to a master thief, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has portrayed myriad characters in her 13-year-old film career.

  • In her 13 year career Aishwarya has played roles ranging from a village belle to a master thief. She's been nominated for Filmfare Best Actress 8 times and has won twice. These are the roles we'll always remember her for ? keep them coming, Ash
    In her 13 year career Aishwarya has played roles ranging from a village belle to a master thief. She's been nominated for Filmfare Best Actress 8 times and has won twice. These are the roles we'll always remember her for – keep them coming, Ash
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  • Her very first role was village belle Pushpa opposite Mohanlal in Mani Ratnam's Iruvar. The movie swept awards ceremonies, winning at the Belgrade Festival, 2 National Awards and 2 Filmfare South Awards
    Her very first role was village belle Pushpa opposite Mohanlal in Mani Ratnam's Iruvar. The movie swept awards ceremonies, winning at the Belgrade Festival, 2 National Awards and 2 Filmfare South Awards
  • Her Bollywood debut in Aur Pyar Ho Gaya had her playing the headstrong, urban Ashi who falls in love with Bobby Deol. The box office all but passed this movie by but Ash was clearly a star in the making
    Her Bollywood debut in Aur Pyar Ho Gaya had her playing the headstrong, urban Ashi who falls in love with Bobby Deol. The box office all but passed this movie by but Ash was clearly a star in the making
  • Love Me Two Times: Her first commercial hit was the Tamil Jeans in which she delivers a double act, playing twins Madhumita and Vaishnavi
    Love Me Two Times: Her first commercial hit was the Tamil Jeans in which she delivers a double act, playing twins Madhumita and Vaishnavi
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  • In Aa Ab Laut Chalen, she plays Pooja, a desi girl who moves to the big, bad America, and falls for fellow desi Akshaye Khanna
    In Aa Ab Laut Chalen, she plays Pooja, a desi girl who moves to the big, bad America, and falls for fellow desi Akshaye Khanna
  • Caught in the Middle: Her first Bollywood hit was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in which she was sublime as the musical Nandini, in love with city boy Salman but forced to marry Ajay Devgn
    Caught in the Middle: Her first Bollywood hit was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in which she was sublime as the musical Nandini, in love with city boy Salman but forced to marry Ajay Devgn
  • She was back with Akshaye Khanna in Taal, in which she plays Mansi from a small Chamba village who makes it big as a dancer in Mumbai. Taal made it to the top 20 list on US magazine Variety and also earned Ash a Filmfare Best Actress nomination
    She was back with Akshaye Khanna in Taal, in which she plays Mansi from a small Chamba village who makes it big as a dancer in Mumbai. Taal made it to the top 20 list on US magazine Variety and also earned Ash a Filmfare Best Actress nomination
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  • In <I>Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai</I> in 2000, she is a rape victim who faces social boycott. She was nominated for Filmfare Best Actress Award.
    In Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai in 2000, she is a rape victim who faces social boycott. She was nominated for Filmfare Best Actress Award.
  • Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke was the first movie that Ash made with future husband Abhishek. She plays a shy, intelligent girl in the movie ? sadly, their chemistry-to-be was entirely M.I.A in this one
    Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke was the first movie that Ash made with future husband Abhishek. She plays a shy, intelligent girl in the movie – sadly, their chemistry-to-be was entirely M.I.A in this one
  • Ash and SRK play star crossed lovers in Mohabbatein. She exists as a memory in the movie and was nominated again for a Filmfare Award
    Ash and SRK play star crossed lovers in Mohabbatein. She exists as a memory in the movie and was nominated again for a Filmfare Award
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  • And she finally won the Filmfare as the beguiling Paro in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's grandiose Devdas, again opposite SRK
    And she finally won the Filmfare as the beguiling Paro in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's grandiose Devdas, again opposite SRK
  • Ash looked east with critically acclaimed Bengali movie Chokher Bali in which she plays Binodhini, a scheming widow
    Ash looked east with critically acclaimed Bengali movie Chokher Bali in which she plays Binodhini, a scheming widow
  • Gurinder Chadha came calling with Bride and Prejudice in which Ash plays Lalita Bakshi, a Punjabi version of Austen heroine Elizabeth Bennet
    Gurinder Chadha came calling with Bride and Prejudice in which Ash plays Lalita Bakshi, a Punjabi version of Austen heroine Elizabeth Bennet
  • Khakee's bad girl Mahalakshmi continued the dalliance with the dark side that Ash first explored in Chokher Bali
    Khakee's bad girl Mahalakshmi continued the dalliance with the dark side that Ash first explored in Chokher Bali
  • She made Kyun?! Ho Gaya Na with then boyfriend Vivek Oberoi. She plays a college student in love with Vivek's character
    She made Kyun…! Ho Gaya Na with then boyfriend Vivek Oberoi. She plays a college student in love with Vivek's character
  • An adaptation of the short story <I>The Gift of the Magi</I> by O Henry, Raincoat is a story of two lovers Ash and Ajay Devgn, who are separated by the destiny.
    An adaptation of the short story The Gift of the Magi by O Henry, Raincoat is a story of two lovers Ash and Ajay Devgn, who are separated by the destiny.
  • Mistress of Spices was her second Hollywood outing ? she plays a spice shop owner opposite Dylan McDermott
    Mistress of Spices was her second Hollywood outing – she plays a spice shop owner opposite Dylan McDermott
  • Ash took on the role of a tragic courtesan made famous by Rekha in the recent version of Umrao Jaan
    Ash took on the role of a tragic courtesan made famous by Rekha in the recent version of Umrao Jaan
  • Chemistry Lesson: Hrithik Roshan was her luck charm in Dhoom 2 in which she played master thief Sunehri
    Chemistry Lesson: Hrithik Roshan was her luck charm in Dhoom 2 in which she played master thief Sunehri
  • Abhishek Bachchan was her main man in biopic Guru in which she played his wife, Sujata ? this time, sparks flew both on and off screen
    Abhishek Bachchan was her main man in biopic Guru in which she played his wife, Sujata – this time, sparks flew both on and off screen
  • She kills abusive husband Naveen Andrews in English movie Provoked
    She kills abusive husband Naveen Andrews in English movie Provoked
  • She plays Hindu queen Jodhaabai opposite Hrithik Roshan's Mughal Emperor Akbar in Jodhaa Akbar
    She plays Hindu queen Jodhaabai opposite Hrithik Roshan's Mughal Emperor Akbar in Jodhaa Akbar
  • And it's a family affair in Sarkar Raj in which she plays the CEO of a power company opposite husband Abhishek and dad-in-law Amitabh
    And it's a family affair in Sarkar Raj in which she plays the CEO of a power company opposite husband Abhishek and dad-in-law Amitabh
  • She glittered as criminologist Sonia Solandres opposite Hollywood giants Steve Martin, Andy Garcia and Alfred Molina in The Pink Panther 2
    She glittered as criminologist Sonia Solandres opposite Hollywood giants Steve Martin, Andy Garcia and Alfred Molina in The Pink Panther 2
  • Ash's character in the Tamil Raavanan and it's Hindi version, Ravan, is based on the mythogical figure of Sita
    Ash's character in the Tamil Raavanan and it's Hindi version, Ravan, is based on the mythogical figure of Sita
  • She is loved by Rajnikanth in the record breaking Enthiran
    She is loved by Rajnikanth in the record breaking Enthiran