Birthday Special: Aishwarya Rai’s best performances

Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, an epitome of beauty and talent has on several occasions won the hearts of her fans with her glamorous look and amazing acting skills.

With Mani Ratnam's semi-biographical Tamil political drama Iruvar, the actress had an outstanding film debut in 1997. In the same year, her first Hindi film Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya was also released. Later, she acted in movies such as Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Mohabbatein, and Dhoom 2, among others.

As the stunning actress turns a year older today, let us look at some of her remarkable performances.

Iruvar (1997)

Iruvar, Mani Ratnam's semi-biographical Tamil political drama, was an impressive celluloid debut for the actor. Few actors get to launch their careers with dual parts, but Rai Bachchan was an exception. She played the dual roles of Pushpavalli and Kalpana with seasoned delicacy, the latter being a fictionalised version of former politician and actor Jayalalithaa.

Devdas (2002)

Devdas, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is considered a classic film. Devdas Mukherjee (SRK)'s life takes a turn for the worst once his family stops him from marrying Paro (Aishwarya Rai). At the 48th Filmfare Awards, she won the Best Actress award for her remarkable performance.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)

The actor played Nandini, a young girl filled with liveliness and humour. She played the role with three shades, deep love for Sameer (Salman Khan), callousness for her spouse Vanraj (Ajay Devgn), and eventual regret for him. Rai infused the character with both charisma and maturity.

Guru (2007)

Rai played the wife of Abhishek Bachchan's character Guru, who was a bit of a renegade with a strong mind of her own. Aishwarya Rai played a tough lady who recognised her rights and refused to submit to patriarchal diktats in the drama set in the 1950s.

Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022)

Aishwarya Rai's mesmerizing beauty left everyone awestruck in this movie. In a film based on Kalki's epic saga of the Chola dynasty and the power struggle for the coveted throne, Aishwarya played Nandini, a character who is far more intelligent and calculative than any of the mighty kings and who knows how to use her beauty to her advantage.