Aishwarya down with German measles

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is down with German measles but that isn't going to put a stop to her work commitments. The actress has been under the weather for the past one week. We spoke to her manager about the actress' condition.

"Yes Aishwarya has been unwell for the past one week. She has been at home for the last one week as she was running high temperature and her skin had broken out into a rash. But she is recuperating just fine now," informed Hari Singh.

When asked about the Unforgettable Tour and her rehearsals for it, Hari Singh says "In 1-2 days she will be back on track. The tour is very much on and everything is going along just fine. In between she was on bed rest but now she is doing okay… and in a couple of days you will see her out and about."

Aishwarya's illness comes just a few days after her father was unwell. In fact he underwent surgery himself and is currently recuperating at the Rai residence.

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Sanjay Dutt to romance Ash on screen

Sanjay Dutt to romance Ash on screen

June 20, 2008 16:04 IST

The last time we saw Sanjay Dutt and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on screen was in Shabd. Though the film, directed by first-timer Leena Yadav, was a flop, their onscreen chemistry worked quite well.

Now, the pair will be seen again on screen, in Mani Ratnam's next. The film will also star Abhishek Bachchan

Incidentally, Sanjay was not the director's first choice. He had first chosen Tamil actor, Vikram. But he roped in Sanjay because he wanted a more popular face.

Apparently, Sanjay accepted the film immediately when Mani asked him. He even juggled his dates, and walked out of a T-series's film to make way for Mani's film.

The T-series film, a romantic comedy, was to star Sanjay opposite Kangana Ranaut . It is directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, who directed the Salman Khan-starrer Lucky.

Here's something for the trivia lovers: There were rumours that Sanjay would star in Mani's Aandavan with Ash and Tabu in 1997. The film was later directed by Rajeev Menon as Kandukondain Kandukondain, and Sanjay was replaced by Mammootty.

Aishwarya Rai: The 'beauty' of her success

Posted on Friday, June 20, 2008 (EST)

Aishwarya Rai has the most successful track record amidst Bollywood actresses over the past two years, with four back to back successes in Dhoom 2 (2006), Guru (2007), Jodhaa Akbar (2008) and Sarkar Raj (2008).

File photo of Aishwarya walking to the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai during the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 27. Photo Credit: Maxx Media / Sawf News

June 20, 2008 (Sawf News) - Aishwarya Rai has the most successful track record amidst Bollywood actresses over the past two years, with four back to back successes in Dhoom 2 (2006), Guru (2007), Jodhaa Akbar (2008) and Sarkar Raj (2008).

She has been part of films by such illustrious directors such as Mani Ratnam, Paul Mayeda Berges, Rituparno Ghosh, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Gurinder Chaddha, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, but critics still say she can't really act, and is not much more than an ornamental element in their films!

Is she plain lucky, or does Aishwarya choose her roles well? She has definitely done interesting and strong roles, roles that any actor worth her mettle would kill to do.

Every time Aishwarya does one of these very interesting roles, we wonder, if another actor could have done it more convincingly.

Lets start with her role in Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar Raj. We'd think she acted better than she normally does - by maybe not acting too much and remaining her own self in most scenes. Ramu probably figured that's the way to make it work with Aishwarya. Just keep things simple, don't ask her to emote too much or show too many expressions.

She still did a very decent job in the film, she was restrained, did not over act, and looked every bit like a tycoon's daughter.

But did she add anything extra? Does any character gain anything extra if it's played by her?

Well, the character becomes beautiful by leaps and bounds, but depth of personality, spontaneity, layers of emotions, sometimes just saying it with a touch or a look in the eye... well, that does not happen when Aishwarya plays a character.

Jodhaa Akbar was Ashutosh's dream project. We know how much attention he pays to detail, he knew what he was doing when he chose Aishwarya to play the role of Jodhaa. Aishwarya as the Rajput queen of Akbar looks beautiful and also fits the role. The chemistry between Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya was marvelous in the movie, and that contributed greatly to the success of the movie. This was the second time that they have been paired together after the tremendous success of Dhoom 2.

L'Oreal international brand ambassador Aishwarya Rai walked the red carpet in an exquisite lustrous green strapless gown for the premier of 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull'at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes on Sunday, May 18, 2008. Photo Credit: KCSPresse / Splash News

One gets the feeling that 'technically' she fits every role that she is taken up for, but somewhere in the performance she falls short, and so her roles don't really become memorable roles of cinema. Visually she fits the image of a queen, she has the physical attributes; the emotional quotient falls short.

Another interesting film starring Aishwarya is Jagmohan Mundhra's Provoked. The film is based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia who has to move to London after marriage and then deal with physical and mental abuse by her husband. She tolerates it for ten years and one day something snaps inside her and she sets him on fire. She is sent to prison and strangely finds her freedom and salvation there. Her case is taken up by an NGO that fights domestic violence against women and after three and half years in prison she is set free. This role gave her tremendous room to grow as an actor.

Jagmohan Mundhra has said that a lot of good actors could have played the role of Kiranjeet, but none would have made the film as popular and talked about as Aishwarya did. He feels she is a brand name, who can make a film interesting internationally.

One film we truly liked Aishwarya's performance in is Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Maybe that is what a great director can do; transform a sprightly young girl in the beginning of the story to a demure, somber married woman by the end of it. We don't think her talent has been used better by any other director; maybe by Mani Ratnam in Guru, but even that performance was not comparable to the one in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Not surprisingly, she won the Best Actress Award for Devdas, another Sanjay Leela Bhansali film.

We can't yet deny that Aishwarya adds a lot of interest value to a film project. There must be so many people in our country and maybe even abroad who just can't take their eyes off her and so have to come and watch her movie.

Aishwarya Rai at the Premiere of Woody Allen's New film 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' at the Palais des Festivals during the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 17 , 2008 in Cannes, France. Photo Credit: Splash News. Photo Credit: KCSPresse / Splash News

Her addition to the cast of any film generates a lot of media buzz. So, end of the day, Aishwarya is a highly saleable actor in the industry. And that is really what matters here.

Her film has to sell, the distributors won't blink an eye-lid before buying a film which features her. So, we have to grudgingly admit, Aishwarya does rule the industry.

For all those other amazing actors who get side-lined by her, well, the world loves a beautiful thing. And Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is beautiful, the whole world admits to that!

Her becoming a part of the most illustrious family in the industry only adds to her image and her supreme position.

Aishwarya Rai's rise to stardom

Love Bollywood podcast

Rai joined stars including Eva Longoria at this year's Cannes Film Festival

Suniti Singh BBC News

• The rise of Rai

1. Born in Mangalore, India, 1973.
2. Trained to be an architect.
3. Modelled for Pepsi and Coca-Cola, and was the face of L'Oreal.
4. Can speak several languages, including Tamil and English.
5. Crowned Miss World in 1994.
6. Made her acting debut in 1997.
7. Married Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007.
8. Forthcoming role in Pink Panther sequel.

• Bollywood blockbuster Sarkar Raj, which opens in UK cinemas this weekend, is something of a family affair.

The drama stars celebrated husband and wife team Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan alongside Abhishek's father, legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan.

Often hailed as the "queen of Bollywood", Rai, 34, married Bachchan last year, forging the ultimate Bollywood dynasty.

Born into a middle-class South Indian family, the elegant Rai first charmed the nation at just 21, winning Miss World in 1994.

Her acting career began three years later in the Tamil film Iruvar, but was branded a disaster, with one critic describing her as "wooden" and another calling her an "ice-maiden".

Two years on, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, a love triangle starring Rai opposite her then-boyfriend, Salman Khan, marked a turning point winning her the Filmfare best actress award.

The film's director Sanjay Leela Bhansali went on to cast her alongside Bollywood hunk Shahrukh Khan in the lead role of Devdas in 2002.

The movie had a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival and marked Rai's arrival on the international film scene.

One year on, the 30-year-old became the first Indian actress to sit on the Cannes jury. Also in 2003, she appeared on the cover of Time magazine as the global face of Indian cinema.

Elusive hit

The glamorous actress has become a favourite on the red carpet

A wax figure of Rai went on display in London's Madame Tussaud's in October 2004, cementing her worldwide fame.

The same month, her first foreign film, Bride and Prejudice - directed by Bend It Like Beckham's Gurinder Chadha - was released. Soon she could be seen stepping out on red carpets all over the world.

In 2005, Rai embarked on a charm offensive in the United States - featuring on the Late Show with David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey and CBS's 60 Minutes.

But a major international hit continues to elude her.

The Mistress of Spices, co-authored by Chadha, and The Last Legion starring Ben Kingsley disappeared without trace.

Provoked, based on the true story of a British woman who killed her abusive husband, won praise for Rai's acting skills but failed to draw large audiences.

Fairytale marriage

Rai has starred in six movies with her husband Abhishek Bachchan

Last year, after being linked to several co-stars, Rai tied the knot with the most eligible bachelor in the Indian film industry, Abhishek Bachchan - bolstering her star wattage.

Together, Rai and her husband have become an advertising powerhouse.

And the success of her first post-marriage release, Jodha-Akbar, has made her one of the highest earners in Indian cinema.

For the future, the actress has several major international projects in the pipeline, including next year's Pink Panther sequel starring Steve Martin and Andy Garcia.

Hollywood will be watching.

Aishwarya, Abhishek buy home in Dubai

Bollywood's star couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have purchased a house in Dubai, becoming the latest celebrities from India's tinsel town to acquire property in the gulf island.

Having bought a place in Sanctuary Falls — a 96-villa double-gated community home — the actors also attended a "Residents Party" for owners in Jumeirah Golf Estates's this week, a gulf daily reported.

While no details were divulged on the couple's new home, it is expected to be ready in the first quarter of 2010, Gulf News said. According to the developers, the price of the villas ranges from AED 15 million to AED 35 million (1 AED = $0.272)

"Dubai is special to us not just as a place where we enjoy great warmth and generosity in terms of love from the people, but it's become a remarkable place and one that is so close to home for us," Abhishek said.

Speaking on the film "Sarkar Raj" — starring both Aishwarya and Abhishek, besides Amitabh Bachchan, which is scheduled to release next week, Aishwarya said the Bachchan family had a great experience working for it and were excited about sharing it with the audience.

"I'm always excited, I've never been nervous before (the release of) a film. It's been a great experience and I'm looking forward to sharing it with the audiences", said the former Miss World.

However, the two were yet to watch the film, they said. Asked if they planned to move to the emirate, Abhishek said relocating "in the real sense" was not on the cards, as the family lived and worked in Mumbai.

However Aishwarya said they were looking forward to spend more time in the island. "It's so close to Mumbai, so we'll probably be spending a lot more weekends here," she was quoted as saying.