Aishwarya Rai's journey in Indian cinema has been a tumultuous one but despite a few setbacks, this green-eyed star managed to scale the heights of stardom. The actor, who turns 50 today, ruled Bollywood, dropped her two-goody shoes image midway to don sexy avatars in films like Dhoom-2 and by dancing to item numbers like Gajra re, Gajra re.
From playing simpleton Meenakshi in Rajiv Menon's Kandukondain Kandukondain in 2000 to playing the svelte, cunning criminology expert Sonia Solandres in Hollywood movie 'Pink Panther 2' in 2009, she had come a long way.
A favourite of acclaimed director Mani Ratnam, she had started her cinematic journey with him in his semi-biographical Tamil political drama Iruvar. The actor, who essayed a younger Jayalalitha in the film, had an outstanding debut with this film in 1997. In the same year, Aishwarya’s first Hindi film Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya was also released. Later, she got recognition as an actress for movies such as Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Mohabbatein, Jodha Akbar, Dhoom 2, among others.
She also did Gurindher Chhada's Hollywood romance 'Bride and Prejudice' , based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, in 2004.
The winning pair
Shah Rukh Khan, the Baadshah of Bollywood, normally has great chemistry with most of his lead actresses, which in turn creates magic at the box-office.
But, his pairing with Aishwarya has been special as the two have looked amazing together. They made a great onscreen pair, like a Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore, or a Shashi Kapoor and Raakhee and the audiences wanted more. However, for some reasons, Aishwarya was dropped from some projects with Shah Rukh and she ended up doing just a handful of movies with the superstar.
But, most of them are memorable ones, here they are:
Josh
It was an unusual pairing alright. Aishwarya Rai, basking in the success of Hum Dil De Jhuke Sanam, was making a bid to become Bollywood's top heroine. At that time, it may have been risky to be paired opposite rising star Shah Rukh Khan as his sister. But, it somehow worked largely due to the director Mansoor Khan.
The two play orphaned siblings in Goa set against some gang rivalry. Though she romanced the amiable looking Chandrachur Singh in the film, Khan and Rai's chemistry as twin brother and sister, who have each other's backs at all costs, crackled on screen. It is one of Rai's best early movies, in which she is seen as a jean-clad, simple church-going Christian girl, Shirley. She won the hearts of audiences playing this character, which is a perfect foil to Shah Rukh's tough local goon in this 2000 film.
Mohabbatein
Released in the same year 2000, Aishwarya and Shah Rukh play eternal lovers in this film, whose love serves as a beacon for three other young couples in love. Directed by Aditya Chopra, this film drove home how effective the lead pair were in portraying true love giving it an ethereal romantic quality. This film set the tone for the next romantic film they were to be paired in together.
Devdas
It took Devdas in 2002 to drive home the sizzling romantic chemistry between them. Not just that the film was a typical Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie with its stunning opulent sets, lighting and music, here was Shah Rukh and Aishwarya, who were at the centre of it all. And, they were playing the ill-fated legendary lovers.
In this film, Shah Rukh as the pining, Devdas wallowing in regret and passion and Aishwarya, as his childhood sweetheart Paro forever in love with him, are magical. This movie brought out the best in them, even bagging an award for Aishwarya. Even Madhuri Dixit, who plays the courtesan Chandramukhi, could not match the passion both Shah Rukh and Aishwarya brought to the screen in this film.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
Though, SRK appeared in just a cameo role as Aishwarya’s husband, the pair stood out. It said a lot about missed opportunities, of not having seen this charismatic pair together on celluloid more often. Shah Rukh played the bitter and sarcastic husband, obviously still in love with his beautiful ex-wife, in this Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. The audience wondered if there could have been more of this couple.
Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam
In 2002, Aishwarya is seen in a cameo in this Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit starrer. They cross each other's paths briefly in the film, where her character, a blind woman, offers some hard-hitting advice to Shah Rukh caught in a serious marital dispute with his wife. The movie, however, with great songs was more an ode to Madhuri-SRK romance on screen.
Shakti: The Power
Aishwarya and Shah Rukh have done an item number together in the Karishma Kapoor starrer Shakti: The Power in 2002. In the song Ishq Kameena, she matches Shah Rukh's energetic dance moves with equal vigour. And, set the pace for her moves later in Dhoom 2.
Later, Shah Rukh and Aishwarya were supposed to do Chalte Chalte, Veer Zara, Kal Ho Na Ho, films in which the leading lady roles were allegedly written with her in mind. But, it's well-known that she was dropped from the projects for reasons best known to her producers. Sadly, film lovers lost the chance to watch this special pair on screen.