things about AISHWARYA RAI that you didn’t know 50much about Page 8 www.saindiamagazine.com
1. Ambassador (spokesperson) for Longines watches since 1999. 2. In April 2003, she suffered an accident on the sets of the film Khakee (2004) when a car driven by a stuntman got out of control, hit her, took her down a crevice, and slammed her into a cactus plant. She broke a bone in one foot and suffered severe cuts, and she was rushed to a hospital. The incident rekindled the discussion about poor safety standards on Bollywood film sets. 3. The first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival. 4. She featured in the 2004 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. 5. In April 2003, L’Oréal signed her as its new international brand ambassador (spokesperson). 6. The first Bollywood star to appear in Rolling Stone magazine. (Issue 932, October 2, 2003). 7. Aamir Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are the only stars to advertise for both Coca Cola and Pepsi. 8. After winning the title of Miss World in 1994, the host of the event, Richard Steinmetz, actually asked Aishwarya out. But being a professional, she refused right away. 9. Has a puppy named Sunshine, which was given to her as a gift by friend Vivek Oberoi. 10. Won the title of Miss Photogenic in the 1994 Miss World Pageant. 11. Has won over 100 awards since 1994 when she was 20. 12. Was listed in Time magazine as one of 100 most influential people in the world (The 2004 TIME 100). 13. Ran the Olympic-torch relay in June 2004. 14. Turned down a role in The Myth (2005) due to her touring schedule. The role was eventually given to Mallika Sherawat. 15. Has refused to work with Salman Khan after their break-up, in spite of several offers. 16. In 2004, Aishwarya became the first Bollywood and Indian actress to have her own statue at London’s Madame Tussauds museum. 17. On January 2nd, 2005, she became the first Indian actress to be interviewed on 60 Minutes (1968). 18. Voted #9 in Harpers and Queen magazine’s list of the 100 most beautiful women of today. (Harpers and Queen, June 6, 2005) 19. A tulip produced in 2005 was named for her. 20. Member of the jury at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. 21. When Oprah Winfrey saw Aishwarya’s interview on 60 Minutes, she was so fascinated by her that she got a hold of Ash and invited her to be a guest on her show. On April 25, 2005, Aishwarya became the first Indian and South Asian actress to be featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986). 22. Turned down a small role as Breseis in the film Troy (2004). 23. Director Andy Tennant offered her a small part in Hitch (2005), but she was busy filming Bride and Prejudice at the time. 24. In the summer of 2005, Mattel released limited-edition Barbie dolls inspired by Aishwarya and her costumes. They were released only in Britain and sold out within minutes. These dolls are now considered rare collectibles among fans. 25. Was voted number 12 on VH1’s 50 Sexiest Actresses of the Last 20 Years. (December 2005) 26. Roger Ebert has said he considers her the most beautiful actress in the world. 27. Was voted as E’s 7th sexiest celebrity in the world. 28. The first actress from India to get signed on with the American Library Association and also have a poster made of her for schools and library’s all across America. invited Aishwarya, along with Aamir Khan, to a luncheon. Aishwarya could not attend because she was in Brazil at the time filming for Dhoom 2 (2006). 30. In mid 2001, Aishwarya started work on two films titled Radheshyam Seetaram and Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke. For reasons unknown, filming stopped on these films in February 2002. Filming was never completed and the films have now been shelved. The only glimpse of the movies that exist for the public to see are photographs from the sets and publicity shots. 31. Is the second Indian actress to appear on the cover of TIME magazine in 2003. The first was Parveen Babi in 1976. 32. Featured in People Magazine as one of the 100 Most Beautiful People in the World. (Issue May,8,2006) 33. Listed as number 3 of ‘Top Bollywood Actresses’ of 2006. (rediff. com, 8-25- 2006) 34. Listed #3 by UK magazine Eastern Eye one of “Asia’s Sexiest Women” (Sept/ 2006). 35. She was the first choice for the role of Jane Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), but she turned it down due to filming conflicts. 36. Has been in seven movies with now husband Abhishek Bachchan, more than with any other actor. 37. Was invited in 2005 to be a presenter at The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005), but was unable to attend because she was busy filming for The Mistress of Spices (2005). 38. Her favorite Western designer is Giorgio Armani. Whenever she is in London, clothes are taken to her hotel for her to choose from. 39. Aishwarya is the second of five Indian women to win the Miss World title. The first was Reita Faria, who won in 1966. Others include Diana Hayden who won in 1997, Yukta Mookhey in 1999, and Priyanka Chopra in 2000. 40. Aishwarya has appeared on more magazine covers worldwide than any other Bollywood or Indian star. 41. Director Brett Ratner is a fan of Aishwarya’s and he wanted her to be cast in Rush Hour 3 (2007), but she turned down the offer. Aishwarya was considered for the part of Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale (2006). 42. Her wax statue at Madame Tussauds Museum in London was borrowed by the museum in New York for six weeks. The statue was flown to New York and made its debut on August 15, 2007, making her the first Indian actress in the American version of the museum. 43. Her wedding invitations were embossed with two entwined as and delivered along with a box of chocolate meringues. Within the invitation was also a poem about new beginnings written by Amitabh Bachchan’s father and renowned poet Dr Harivash Rai Bachchan. 44. Incidentally had she pursued medicine she would have also been called Aishwarya Rai Bachchan – she incidentally is the only Rai Bachchan in her family after Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan. 45. Her wedding ceremony lasted a total of three days. It was the most awaited and talked about wedding in years and the press followed it like Princess Diana’s wedding. 46. Forbes listed her in the 387th position out of 1,411 actors as the most bankable Indian star in Hollywood. (February 2009). 47. Aishwarya Rai is the youngest actress to receive the Padmi Shri award, the fourth highest civilian honor, from the Government of India for her contribution to cinema. 48. Aishwarya is the first goodwill ambassador for Smile Train, a charity that works worldwide for children with cleft lip. 49. Due to her popularity, a second wax statue of Aishwarya was added to Madame Tussauds in Blackpool, UK in October 2011. 50. In 2004 she was going to produce a Hollywood movie along with Zachary Coffin (an actor in India). The film was titled Windfall and was based on the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984. Aishwarya Rai was playing the role of Jasmine Singh, a NRI who returns to India to search for her father. Her father was the factory plant manager the night the massacre occurred. The film was shelved after announcement. Another film Bhopal starring Raajpal Yadav co-starring Hollywood legend Martin Sheen was made and released in 2015. 29. When President George W. Bush visited India in March 2006, he www.saindiamagazine.com Page 9
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