During her nearly two decade long association with the Indian film industry, Aishwarya Rai has established herself as a synonym for excellence thanks to her vivacious personality, elegant fashion statement and intense acting style. In fact, it can even be said that at present the Mangalore-born actress is an absolute brand in every sense of the word.
While for most part of her illustrious career the former miss universe has worked primarily in Hindi films, every now and then she has ventured into Tamil movies as well. Today, as Aishwarya celebrates her birthday, let us take a look at the star’s tryst with southern cinema.
Iruvar: Directed by Mani Ratnam, ‘Iruvar’ highlighted the strong link between politics and cinema in the Tamil Nadu. Regarded as one the evergreen classics of Indian cinema, it marked Aishwarya’s big screen debut.
In the film, she was paired opposite Mohanlal and essayed a double role. Interestingly, as ‘Iruvar’ was based on a sensitive issue, it ran into some trouble with the censors. Moreover, it also drew the ire of then Dravidian Kazhagam president K Veeramani who stated that the political-drama belittled the Dravidian movement.
Jeans: Touted as a romantic-comedy, ‘Jeans’ is perhaps best remembered for its fun-filled plot and robust performances. Directed by S Shankar, the film helped Aishwarya showcase her versatility as a performer to the fullest. She essayed the role of a cheerful young woman as well as her “twin” with absolute ease. Released in 1998, it was later on dubbed into Hindi and Telugu. Interestingly, ‘Jeans’ proved to be a big hit at the ticket window and was India’s official entry to the Oscars.
Enthiran: A blockbuster in every sense of the word, ‘Enthiran’ was in many ways a dream come true for Aishwarya as it saw her paired opposite none other than Tamil superstar Rajinikanth. Needless to say she shared an excellent onscreen rapport with southern cinema’s resident ‘Thalaiva’, adding another feather to her cap. Touted as a science-fiction drama, ‘Enthiran’ also featured Danny Denzongpa and Karunas in pivotal roles.
Raavanan: A contemporary retelling of the Ramayana, this Mani Ratnam-directed thriller featured Aishwarya in a role which was modeled on Sita. In it, she shared screen space with popular Tamil actor Vikram and also pulled off a few stunts. Interestingly, ‘Raavanan’ was simultaneously shot in Hindi as ‘Raavan’ with Aishwarya playing the same role in both versions.
Kandukondein Kandukondein: Loosely based on Jane Austen’s novel ‘Sense and Sensibility', this pulsating romantic-drama proved to be one of the most talked about films of the year 2000. Directed by Rajiv Menon, it boasted of an ensemble cast top lined by Aishwarya , Tabu and Mammootty. A big winner at the box office, the movie created a stir amongst movie buffs courtesy its sensitive depiction of the trauma experienced by the protagonists.
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