Decoding Aishwarya Rai

Abhishek Bachchan on the first time he met Aishwarya states, "The first time I met Aishwarya was in August 1997. I was on a recce for my father's film 'Mrityudata' in Switzerland and she was shooting her first film, 'Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya', with my dear friend Bobby Deol. I remember one evening Bobby invited me over to his hotel for dinner and Aishwarya and the rest of the unit were there. That was the first time I actually met her..."

                     

"...although I had obviously seen her before, since she was Miss World and all that. I don't remember the moment when I knew she was the one, actually which is weird, but it always just felt right. If you ask her, she will tell you the same thing...that the minute we came together, we both knew that this was something for keeps. So, there wasn't just this 'one' defining moment, it always felt perfect!"

        

Abhishek Bachchan says it's tough to choose between his wife Aishwarya Rai and daughter Aaradhya. "No father on the earth can ever answer that question like that. Both are an integral part of my life and I need both of them to complete me," Junior B said.

   

Sushmita Sen on Ash
"Aishwarya has always been known to be a beautiful woman. She has brought great laurels to our country. Both of us are international winners. Whether you become a mother biologically or through heart, you feel beautiful entering that phase of your life. She will be a very beautiful mother."

                            

Make up artiste Mickey Contractor on Aishwarya's very first day as a model: "When I first met Aishwarya on the shoot of a talcum powder commercial, she was shocked by my language (I used to abuse a lot). She kept smiling on set. She told me later that she wondered what kind of weirdo I was. I then worked with her on her first film 'Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya' and on several ad campaigns thereafter. She carries off every look I create for her.

   

"She is daring, adaptable and confident of the way she looks. Over time, the only change in her face is that she is leaner and more mature now and she looks very international. She is a natural beauty, " says Mickey.

    

When God was distributing good looks, the rest of us must been in the loo, because she got it all," Mickey adds.

   

Ashutosh Gowariker talks a how Aishwarya became his Jodhaa "When i finished the draft of my epic romance, I sent Aishwarya a single line SMS politely asking, 'Will you be my Jodhaa?' Promptly came the reply, 'YES!' and that is how our association began. Today, she is one of my closest friends."

    

Shah Rukh: I just got lucky

Shah Rukh was first seen in serials like 'Fauji', 'Doosra Keval' and 'Circus'. His performance in 'Fauji' as Abhimanyu Rai was one of his early memorable roles.

   

'Deewana' with Divya Bharti won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut.

   

Shah Rukh's role in Yash Raj films established him as the undisputed romantic hero. Saif Ali Khan had turned down the role of Raj in DDLJ which is still considered Shah Rukh's most memorable role.

   

Shah Rukh is one of the biggest brands in India. He has been promoting brands like Pepsi, Videocon, Nerolac, Hyundai and TAG Heuer among others.

   

Shah Rukh starred in Amol Palekar's 'Paheli'. The film was shot in 47 days and was selected as India's entry to the Oscars that year over 'Swades'.

   

The teaser trailer 'Rab Ne Bana Di' was first released on Shah Rukh's 43rd birthday.

   

Shah Rukh spent his childhood in Delhi and his house in Mumbai is called Mannat. He has a dog called Chewbacca.

   

Shah Rukh did a item number in the film 'Krazzy 4'

  

Shah Rukh's last big release was Farhan Akhtar's 'Don 2'. SRK's look in the film sufficient buzz.

   

Shah Rukh was so possessive about his wife Gauri before he married her that she had once come to Mumbai without informing him.

   

Shah Rukh still finds time to help his children with their homework and he tries to drop them off at school whenever possible. They however, feel a little embarrassed because of the kind of attention Shah Rukh attracts.

   

Shah Rukh has always been quite close to Big B's family despite rumours that the two don't get along. There's a lot of mutual respect and admiration between them.

   

   

   

'My mother is most happy that I am not married'

On marriage
"My mother is most happy that I am not married, as she does not need to share her jewellery with anyone!"

                           

Don't you feel lonely without a companion?
"Loneliness is never pretty. I just want to make films. Why do to a spouse when you can do it with your films? My office has become my family. People who work in my office have become my world I really don't feel the need for anyone!"

                                

"Everyone thinks I am most expressive, but the truth is that I hold back! I don't express my feelings to anyone! When I am hurt I keep it to myself, then after 2 to 3 years, it comes out in some other situation!"

                                

The actor in front of whom you cannot gather courage to open your mouth?
"Salman Khan!"

                           

"I am very scared of Salman for some reason, I don't know why, though he has been very wonderful to me, he is close to my family from a very long time, but I get nervous in front of him."

             

Talking about Karan's star cast Siddharth asked Karan 'Why do his two proteges Varun Dhawan and Siddharth Malhotra keep removing their shirts at the drop of the hat? Karan laughed,
"Thank god, Alia has not got inspired from them, If Alia kept doing the same as them, my film would have not been for the family audiences, it would been for a different kind of audience!"

               

Siddharth Malhotra then pulled Karan's leg saying that, "We got inspired by Karan to remove our clothes, because when we were shooting in Bangkok, he would remove his clothes and swim and people would watch, especially Varun who would watch Karan chup chupke swimming bare bodied!'

    

Karan Johar intruded, "I am not an exhibitionist, I had a private pool next to my room, I removed my clothes on my own and there was no one there! Mujhe public mein kapde utarna achcha nahi lagta! In fact Kajol warned and fired them not to remove their shirt in front of her when she came for a special appearance in my film! 'They kept mum after that firing session by her!'

       

Lilliputian love affairs

Avantika Malik's head is always held high when she is with her husband Imran Khan. Do you think they make a cute couple despite the height difference?

                         

From Aishwarya Rai to katrina Kaif, Sallu bhai's girls were always taller than him.

      

Amitabh Bachchan, one of the tallest stars of Bollywood, married Jaya Bhadhuri - one of the shortest actress.

                               

Remember Nicole Kidman's famous statement following her separation from Tom Cruise? She then stated that she can finally start wearing high heels. Unfortunately, Nicole's second husband Keith Urban too is short.

                            

Tom Cruise also ended up Katie Holmes, another tall, leggie like his ex-wife Nicole. The couple broke up recently.

                         

Christina Ricci-Owen Benjamin pair reminds us of a Lilliputian-Brobdingnagian affair!

                         

Isla looks like a little girl clinging to her daddy in this photo. Still, Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen share a great chemistry. Both have been together since 2002.

                          

For 5 ft tall Hayden Panettiere, it would be impossible to find someone of her own size. Hayden dated 6ft 6 inches tall Ukranian heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko for almost two years. But the break up had nothing to do with his height though.

                          

Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie and Hollywood star Josh Duhamel do look cute together despite their height difference.

                             

Who cares about the height? Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith make a lovely pair!

                        

Top 10 Miss India winners of all time

1. Leela Naidu:
The beautiful Leela Naidu won the Miss India title in the year 1954. She featured in the list of the "World's Ten Most Beautiful Women" as named by Vogue magazine. She starred in a few Hindi and English films and passed away in the year 2009.

                      

2. Rita Faria:
Rita Faria was the first Indian woman to bring home the Miss World Crown in 1966. However after the completion of her one year tenure as Miss World, she refused all modelling and film offers and opted, instead, for medical studies.

      

3. Zeenat Aman: Actress Zeenat Aman found fame after being declared the second runner up in the Miss India contest.She was later crowned Miss Asia Pacific in 1970. Aman, then, embarked on a journey of modelling and films and was one of those actresses who helped change the perception of Indian women as meek and submissive in the country.

      

4. Juhi Chawla

Juhi Chawla won the Miss India crown in 1984 and she is considered to be one of the finest of the lot. Juhi moved to a filmy career, during which, she captured the imagination of millions of fans.

       

5. Madhu Sapre

Madhu Sapre came close to winning the Miss Universe crown in1992 but she claims she could not do so because she wasn't politically correct and or proficient in English. She was crowned the second runner up and Madhu went on to become one of the most bold and iconic model India had ever seen.

      

6. Sushmita Sen

Sushmita Sen was the woman who ended India's drought at the Miss Universe contest in the year 1994. The first Indian to win the title, Sush was a cut above the rest from the very start. She not only established herself as an actress but also showed her mettle as a woman by single-handedly taking care of her two adopted daughters.

     

7. Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai was the second woman to win the Miss World crown. After coming second to Sushmita Sen in the Miss India contest, Ash did not let that happen again and brought the title home. Today, Ash is one of the most recognized Indian faces on the global platform and has lived yp to her title of being a 'Miss World'.

  

8. Diana Hayden

Diana can be termed as one of the most charming Miss India winners with her perfect poise andcrisp diction. She was also the only Miss World contestant to score a hattrick at the Miss World contest in 1997- Miss Photogenic, Miss Beachwear and Miss World.

      

9. Lara Dutta

Lara Dutta is the only other woman after Sushmita Sen to win the Miss Universe title. Lara won the title in the year 2000. She is, today, an actress, a producer and a very supportive wife to husband Mahesh Bhupathi.

                    

10. Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka was the last Indian who won the Miss World title. Its been over ten years that India has returned empty handed from the international contests. Priyanka has created a niche for herself in the industry with spectacular performances in various films. At present, she is ruling the roost in Bollywood as she is amongst the top actresses.