When the entire world is occupied with superficial matters like her baby weight, Aishwarya Rai shows that she is more concerned with more serious concerns. The 38-year-old has decided to attend the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) dinner and an after-party representing a cosmetic brand to help raise funds in the fight against AIDS.

The new mommy recently spoke to the media and said that she was proud to have represented India at the international film forum for 11 years and that she was very happy to lend her support to create awareness and raise funds for the prevention of AIDS. amfAR is one of the world's leading non-profit organisations dedicated to support the AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment, education and the advocacy of sound AIDS related public policy. Apart from Ash, Alec Baldwin, Diane Keaton, Berenice Bejo, designer Karl Lagerfeld, Gwen Stefani, Mila Jovovich are some of the other celebrities expected to be present at the amfAR dinner.

Read the rest of this entry »

Celebrities have to pay a heavy price for being a star. One such person who has always been at the centre of criticism is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. However, the beautiful actress has tackled the harsh criticism shot out to her time and again by the media in the most poise and dignified manner.

Though Bollywood celebs seem to have fame and money in plenty, what they do not have is privacy and space! The actors and actresses are singled out and criticised for every thing they do – whether it be the clothes they wear or the manner in which they speak or carry themselves. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was the eyes of cynosure ever since she rose to fame after winning the Miss World contest in 1994.

Whether it is the clothes that she wore at public events (particularly the Cannes Film Festival), her hairdo or the giggles and laughter that accompanied all her interviews, Aishwarya was never spared. The media lashed out at her on every given occasion.

Aishwarya Rai's weight gain post delivery is currently the talk of the town and has gone the rumour mill churning out stories of how Aishwarya is trying to hide her weight in loosely fitted anarkali clothes. There was also a buzz that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will not walk the red carpet this year too.

The most interesting aspect is that Aishwarya has reacted in only one way....and that is a deep long silence! Aish has always maintained silence and has never condemned or lashed out at the media so far. While it is difficult for most people to ignore atrocious things written about them, Aishwarya just prefers to ignore them! Smart thinking, we must say!

Read the rest of this entry »

Fights and brawls are part of every human being's life, but sustaining strained relationships with loved ones is no less than stupidity. That's what has happened in the case of the Bachchans and filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar.

The much-hyped strained relationship between Aishwarya Rai and Bhandarkar had gained immense media attention so far. We have all learnt how a pregnant Ash was unceremoniously dropped from Bhandarkar's Heroine, and Kareena Kapoor was chosen for the concerned role.

Since then, Madhur Bhandarkar has been extremely verbal in expressing his vengeance against Ash for concealing her pregnancy. In return to this, Aishwarya received a full fledged support from pa-in-law Amitabh Bachchan. But surprisingly, it seems that all is well now.

Mumbai Mirror have recently learnt that Bhandarkar and the Big B were seen chatting warmly at a five star hotel, during the shoot of a commercial. It looks like the duo has buried the hatchet and are friends again. So, does the Big B-Bhandarkar reconciliation mean that the Bachchan bahu rani Aishwarya too will turn friend with the Heroine director again?

Read the rest of this entry »

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is all set to attend the Cannes film festival this year, it has been confirmed. This will be the 38-year-old’s 11th time on the red carpet at the French Riviera and her five-month-old daughter Aradhya also might accompany her. Aishwarya’s representative has confirmed her presence at the festival as the face of cosmetic giant L’Oreal, of which the former beauty queen is a longtime brand ambassador.

Last year Aishwarya launched the film “Heroine” at Cannes but later stepped down from the project due to pregnancy. Kareena Kapoor has replaced her in the film. Actress Sonam Kapoor, another brand ambassador of L’Oreal, will also be at the Cannes film festival, slated to begin May 16. Indian presence at the prestigious festival will be remarkable this year with four Indian films being premiered, three of which are produced by Anurag Kashyap. Actor Arjun Rampal will also be at the event with wife Mehr courtesy an invitation from Cannes film festival partner and global luxury brand, Chivas Regal.

Read the rest of this entry »

Even as speculations abound whether actor Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan will be attending the Cannes Film Festival this year, a source close to the actor puts all rumours to rest and confirms that she will indeed be walking the red carpet at the international fest this year as well.

“Yes, Aishwarya will be going to Cannes this year,” says the insider. According to the source, her six-month-old daughter, Aradhya, is likely to travel with her and in all likelihood, she will also be accompanied by husband Abhishek Bachchan, apart from other family members. “We can’t confirm about Abhishek yet, but Aishwarya won’t travel without Aradhya for sure,” the source adds.

When contacted, corporate communications manager, Snehhal Chitneni of the cosmetic brand that Aishwarya will be representing at Cannes, too confirms the actor’s presence. “Yes, Aishwarya is slated to attend the festival and she has confirmed it too. In fact, this year the actor will have a bigger role to play as the brand ambassador,” she adds. It is slated to be Aishwarya’s 11th Cannes visit this year ever since she made her first appearance there. The actor is expected to walk the red carpet for two consecutive days, along with the international faces representing the brand.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mumbai: All those who were waiting for a glimpse of Aishwarya Rai’s daughter at the Cannes Film Festival this year would have to bite dust yet again. Buzz has it that Ash might not attend Cannes Film Festival that is to be held from May 16.

While reasons of her backing out from the prestigious event may vary from work commitments to taking care of her baby, strong rumour doing the rounds suggest that she is skipping the annual event because of her weight. Ash gained `oodles of weight` after the birth of her daughter and when she was spotted in a fat avatar recently at an event, the pictures set off a buzz on the internet and social media.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been a regular at Cannes ever since she paved the way for Bollywood to be highlighted at international forums. And it was reported earlier that Ash would attend the event in the company of her 5-month old daughter. Cannes Film fest holds a reputation of showcasing the best of the movies along with some avant garde fashion displayed by guests who attend the event. And, given Ash’s current shape, her withdrawal from the event doesn’t seem like a bad idea.

Read the rest of this entry »

Since Aishwarya Rai had appeared public for the first time post the delivery of her baby media has been critical about her overweight body! It is 5 months now since the actress delivered her baby and Aishwarya Rai is still looking the same physique – an overweight! After the delivery she made many public appearances and every time she was flashed in the media her physique was criticized that why she had not brought down her weight and started maintaining the shape what she was before she was pregnant!

The critics take the examples of many celebrities who regained their shape after delivering their babies. Beyonce Knowles quickly returned to her shape, Victoria Beckham went size zero immediately after delivering her baby. And, our own Lara Dutta, who gave birth to a baby last January, is now back in shape! The media questions when these woman celebrities can regain their previous shape why Aish could not?
Aishwarya Rai is not just a mom, for many Indians she is a role model, an inspiration, and for the international community she is the face of the Indian glamour industry.

For these reasons and more media expect her to be Look conscious. As the actress failed to fulfill the expectations of many she is now criticized. But, friends and well wishers standby for what she is now! “Aishwarya Rai will take some time to come back to her normal. Let her have that time,” says ace designer Sabyasachi Mukerjee.

The designer also adds that the actress should be appreciated for being her real. Rina Dhaka, another well known designer says, “Any woman would gain weight after delivering a baby. It is unfair on the part of the media to be so cruel to a woman. I condemn their attitude.”Yes, Aishwarya Rai is also a woman first. It is nothing wrong for being you for some time. And, she was Miss World, she knows what is best for her!

Read the rest of this entry »

Recently Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was invited to the round table at the Ambani residence with the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon.

Says a source close to Ash, “Only a few people from the industry were invited. This included Aishwarya, Aamir Khan, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar. Ash interacted with the Secretary General and the entire team which included Dr Margaret Chan, director general-WHO, Geeta Rao Gupta, deputy executive director-UNICEF, and Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director- United Nation’s Population Fund amongst others. The UN Secretary General showed interest in working with her. They are figuring out what to do as she’s involved in various causes.”

Read the rest of this entry »

A survery poll conducted by Yahoo! in April finds that Aishwarya Rai and Abhishehk Bachchan are the most stylish celebrity couple. 1223 respondents participated in the survery. About three-fourths of those participating in the survey belonged to the youth category.

Aishwarya was voted the best dressed celebrity on red carpet and Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai are declared as the most stylish celebrity couple. Amitabh Bachchan is announced as the best power dresser, in the poll. He with his magneficient personality received 56 percent votes. Next came Ratan Tata getting 19 percent votes, followed by Sonia Gandhi by 9 percent votes.

Hrithik Roshan was named the ultimate style icon. Second came MS Dhoni, followed by Shahrukh Khan. Hrithik Roshan got 18 per cent votes, while MS Dhoni and Shahrukh Khan received 16 per cent and 15 per cent votes respectively.

Read the rest of this entry »

Aishwarya Rai is considered by many to be the most beautiful woman in the world but in recent times, she has been slammed by her ordinarily adoring public for her weight gain post delivery. A section of the media and denizens of the social networking sites have criticized her for not losing the baby weight saying that it has been five months since the birth of her baby girl and if anything she seems to have become fatter and is even sporting a double chin.

Some have rushed to her defense and designers like Sabyasachi Mukherji, Rocky S and Rina Dhaka have lashed out at the press saying that it is normal for women to put on weight at this time and Ash should not be attacked for enjoying her motherhood and indulging a little. We agree, after all beauty is not skin deep and a little junk in the trunk is no reason to get worked up about.

Read the rest of this entry »