Fri Jun 21 2013
On June 14, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was in Kuala Lumpur. Ms Rai Bachchan, among Indias best-known glamour faces, is an actor and celebrity endorser of some of the worlds leading luxury brands. On the same day, AstroAwani caught up with her for an exclusive free-wheeling conversation. That conversation will be telecast soon on AstroAwani channel 501. Meanwhile, here are some behind-the-scene pictures and close-ups of the international star.
While we prepped for the interview, many at our office, had an opinion or comment. Some as extreme as this: -Her visit may be bigger than that of Kate!- Ah ha! Surprise! -Kate- is none other than the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who visited Malaysia in September last year with husband Prince William. Others remember her movies Devdas and Taal. Devdas released in 2002, is the third adaptation of a popular Bengali novel, to be produced by Indias Hindi film industry. The 2002 version with Shakrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit, raked up several prestigious awards in India. Time Magazine listed it among the best movies of the year released around the world. Taal released even earlier, in 1999. More than a decade later, the movies still come up in conversations on Aishwarya Rai.
Kate Middleton or not, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is known to generate a sizeable media frenzy around the world. Here's the thing she won Miss World as was touted as the world's most beautiful woman in 1994. That makes it 19 years, yet the title sticks on. Thats no mean accomplishment in the famously fickle world of glamour. Freida Pinto hit the jackpot (literally) with sleeper hit Slumdog Millionaire in 2008. Just five years after her breakthrough year, some of the sheen appears to be wearing off Frieda Pinto. Reports out of India say she will appear in a Hindi film later this year.
So what really contributes to the endearing obsession with Aishwarya? Not that all of it has been upbeat. The Indian media played up her post-baby weight gain. Unflattering pictures of her have repeatedly surfaced in coverage of her in the Indian media. Many have taken pot-shots at her wardrobe in formal appearances at home and abroad.
In Kuala Lumpur though, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was spot-on in her choice of outfit. She opted for a heavily embellished lehnga in lime green. The pastel outfit was a perfect complement for her grey green eyes. Those eyes, are pretty celebrated too - apparently Google gets nearly 6000 searches every month on people wanting to know what is the real colour. Thats not all. Theres even a Facebook page dedicated to them - facebook.com/aishbeautiful.eyes
Aishwarya Rai Bachchans visit to Kuala Lumpur was linked to her endorsement of Swiss luxury watchmaker Longines. She launched the brands spanking new (and first) swish boutique at the Pavilion Mall in Kuala Lumpur. Incidentally, Aishwarya has been endorsing Longines for more than a decade, quite possibly the world's longest-standing celebrity endorsement!
Small wonder then the Longines Ambassador of Elegance, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, flaunts an elegant gold Longines! We managed to capture this close-up.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan spoke to us at length, giving us answers to some of the questions we are sure you would have wanted to ask why isnt she on any social media for instance. Her husband Abhishek Bachchan and father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan are very active on Twitter. The Senior Bachchan even announced her pregnancy on Twitter! Her husband too shares daily updates and announced the birth of their daughter on Twitter.
With all the enduring interest around her, we thought you may want to know how she manages to give a normal (read paparazzi free) life to daughter Aaradhya. Or is that wishful thinking for any celebrity?
We wrapped our session with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and returned to office, only to more questions - SO HOW WAS SHE? Simply put nineteen years later- Indias best known Miss World, much-loved in Malaysia. AstroAwani channel 501 will telecast the interview on June 29 at 9.30pm. The interview will be available on our YouTube channel - njoiawani
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