Aishwarya Rai and the Cannes Film Festival have been all but inseparable for the last decade. Aishwarya has been a French Riviera regular ever since her landmark film Devdas was screened there (a first for a commercial Hindi film). But now, after all these years of dominating that famous red carpet, a "new" Bollywood face is set to take Aishwarya's place.
So who will be filling Aishwarya's (incredibly accomplished) shoes this year? Some new up and comer perhaps? A young starlet just beginning her career? Perhaps another Indian beauty queen?
Not quite. Aishwarya's replacement is none other than Karisma Kapoor. Lolo is one of a handful of former Bollywood stars making a comeback this year (fellow comeback queens include Madhuri Dixit and the glorious Sridevi) and her first film after all these years away, Dangerous Ishq, will be making a showing at Cannes.
Thanks to Aishwarya Rai's decision to stay out of the public eye for the rest of the year to care for Beti B, Karisma Kapoor won't suffer the fate of other Indian actresses who have forayed to France--namely being overshadowed by Mrs. Bachchan.
Speaking of Aishwarya Rai, wonder what she thinks about handing over the title of India's Queen of Cannes to Lolo. Karisma was, after all, engaged at one point to Aishwarya's husband, Abhishek Bachchan; and Karisma's sister, Kareena Kapoor, is currently filming for Heroine, the film that was snatched away from Aishwarya when she became pregnant.
Regardless of the Cannes trip, it's great to have Karisma Kapoor back in the film business again. She was always known as a lovely and talented young woman and it was a shame when she gave up her career in exchange for married life. Now a whole new generation of fans will have a chance to see her on screen!