Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is an actress known mainly for Hindi and Tamil films. She won Miss World 1994, after finishing second at Miss India, and became one of India's most popular and influential celebrities. In 2004 Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. India awarded her the Padma Shri in 2009, and the Government of France gave her the Order of Arts and Letters in 2012.

Her acting debut was in Mani Ratnam's Tamil film Iruvar (1997), and her first Hindi film, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, came the same year. Jeans (1998) was her first hit. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and Devdas (2002) each won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Critics praised Kandukondain Kandukondain, Chokher Bali, Raincoat, Provoked, where she played Kiranjit Ahluwalia, and Guzaarish.

Her biggest hits include Mohabbatein, Dhoom 2, Guru, Jodhaa Akbar, Enthiran, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and both parts of Ponniyin Selvan (2022 and 2023). In 2003 she became the first Indian actress to serve on the Cannes jury, and in 2012 she became a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador. On this guide she plays Paro in Devdas.

Away from the screen she supports charity work through her own foundation and as an ambassador for several organisations. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas were both directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who later cast her as a nurse in Guzaarish. The Mani Ratnam connection runs from Iruvar to Guru and the two Ponniyin Selvan films.

Devdas (2002, Hindi) was released 12 July 2002. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan plays Paro, under director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The cast also includes Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit.