The Miss World Pageant is a bit of a non-event in our home, however I do remember the one in 1994 when a captivating, gentle Indian beauty, with blue green eyes and dark, full, lustrous hair smiled and cried with palpable disbelief, as her name still echoed in the microphone at Sun City, South Africa.
Aishwarya Rai from India, had just been crowned, "Miss World - 1994."
Winning the acclaimed title while she was still a college student, Ash or Aishu (as she is mostly known,) was adroit enough to see it as an emphatic change to her lifestyle; that would demand she embrace her 'rising star' tightly,or lose it.
Both her inner and physical beauty even today, are so striking, that it's no wonder there are posters (for sale) of her all over the internet.
Looking at her is like breathing in the fresh, sweet air of a countryside filled with wildflowers. Ash has become the new Gina Lollabrigida or Sophia Loren; a universal pride of place that no-one has been able to occupy since their own departures from Hollywood, back in the sixties.
It's also unsurprising, that following the The Miss World Pageant, this Venus transitioned to modeling, then ultimately into an acting career, that as of this year has already spanned a decade.
Her current film is named "The Last Legion" and has a cast headed by Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley. One has to wonder if their involvement is a sign of a quality movie, or just a matter of the Hollywood dollar magnet again.
I used to tell myself that any movie headed by Ben Kingsley must mean that the film is great, until I went to a couple of downright no-hitters, post "Schindler's List" that I just couldn't believe. In "The Last Legion" he plays Merlin.
Ghandi is probably rolling over in his grave.
While I have yet to see this $70 million blockbuster from Dino De Laurentis; from what I've heard, you can think of it as Troy meets King Arthur. I kid you not. This accomplished actress has won:
* Miss World;
* Miss India (Miss Femina;)
* Three Filmfare awards (Best Actress;)
* One Filmfare Award (Best Supporting Actress;)
Plus successful selection (at various times,) to represent: Pepsi; Phillips; Casio; Longine watches; L'Oreal; Palmolive and other Fortune 500 companies;
From a traditional southern Indian family in Karnataka, Ash speaks several languages including English, Hindi, Kannada and Tamil. She's also an excellent dancer; essential for a diverse talent, which is a prerequisite to 'make it' with Bollywood in India. If you don't act, sing and dance, you don't move up the ranks to 'Official Stardom.'
Even as India has claimed her daughter, so has Hollywood already screwed up (as usual,) now that they too have their hands on Aishwarya Rai. Ash has a lot more depth to her, than just sexy window dressing, which (from what I hear,) she is being used for in "The Last Legion."
Hey, I'm not a feminist; whistle at me all you want when I walk by, I'll just wave and say "have a nice day boys." That's not the issue. The issue is in thinking that her physical attributes are her only box office draw card, when she has so much more to offer as an actress.
But so be it Hollywood; you know better.
India's sweetheart had been torn between architecture and medicine in school, but ended up with a major in Architecture. Unbelievably, Ash says that she doesn't wear any makeup, preferring a more earthy look to her features and doesn't dye her hair.
Put her side by side with Pamela Anderson and the latter ends up looking like Tammy Faye at a Mary Kaye Party, with a $1000.00 in hand.
Aishwarya's next movie?
"The Next Pink Panther" (formerly titled: Pink Panther 2,) due to be released in 2009 where she will star opposite Steve Martin, John Cleese, Andy Garcia and Alfred Molina.
"I don't believe in proving a point to anybody. Nobody is that important."
- Aishwarya Rai
