The lovely green  eyed Miss world 1994, Aishwarya Rai popularly known as Ash was born on 1st November 1973 at Mangalore. 

Born to parents Krishna Raj and Vrinda Rai, she and her brother Aditya, were brought up in a middle class background. Aishwarya did her schooling at Arya Vidya Mandir, Santacruz in Mumbai and junior college from Jai Hind. She pursued her graduation in Architecture from Rachana Sansad School, Mumbai. By this time, Aishwarya started getting modelling assignments in Fashion shows and advertisemnet campaigns. She won the Famous Ford Supermodels Contest at the age of 17. From that point there was no looking back. She participated in the Miss India Femina contest 1994 and became the Ist runner up which paved her way for winning the Miss world crown 1994. Aishwarya Rai''''s career took off as soon as she became 1994 Miss World.

She made her debut into films with Mani Rathnam''''s '''' Iruvar'''' in which she did her part wonderfully, but it was ''''Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'''' that made her popular as an actress. She has acted in several films like ''''Taal'''', ''''Josh'''', ''''Khakee'''', ''''Mohabbattein'''', and has won the Filmfare Awards for the Best Actress category for ''''Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam''''. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam not only gave her the real breakthrough but also proved her mettle as an actress

Aishwarya is the first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival (2003). She was also featured on the cover of the Time magazine.

2004 saw Aishwarya take on the lead role in her first English language film for Gurinder Chadha in "Bride & Prejudice" (of "Bend It Like Beckham" fame) and Rituparna Ghosh''''s ''''Raincoat''''.

2005 started with appearances on "60 Minutes", "David Letterman Show" and the most watched television program in the world the "Oprah Winfrey Show". Aishwarya was seen in more Hollywood flicks like ''''Mistress of Spices'''' by director Paul Berges, Jag Mundhra''''s ''''Provoked'''', and legendary film producer Dino De Laurentiis''''s ''''The Last Legion'''' opposite Colin Firth and Sir Ben Kingsley.

In 2006 she is back in Bollywood with movies like Sanjay Gadhvis'''' ''''Dhoom-2'''', JP Dutta''''s ''''Umrao Jann'''', Mani Ratnam''''s ''''Guru'''', and Ashutosh Gowariker''''s ''''Jodha- Akbar'''', in which she plays the title role of Mughal king Emperor Akbar''''s Hindu wife and queen.

Aishwarya’s life has been eclipsed by an unhappy affair with  bollywood star Salman Khan. After years of speculation she declared that she would never work with him again for personal reasons. She was also linked to Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi and now it is said that, she is dating Abhishek Bachchan and was frequently seen in public with him and his family, fueling rumors of an engagement. After much gossips concerning their relationship, her engagement to Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan was announced on January 14, 2007. The event was heavily covered by the media. And finally they got married on April 20, 2007 in a private ceremony held at the Bachchans'''' bungalow Prateeksha.

On the personal front, Aishwarya campaigns for many social causes. She has generously volunteered to donate her eyes and has set an example for the rest of the world. Lovely Aishwarya Rai  has proved her mettle in whatever she does especially in acting, and still remains one of the leading actresses in the tinsel world.