ACTOR SPOTLIGHT: AISHWARYA ASH RAI

WITH BOLLYWOOD CROSSING OVER TO MAINSTREAM HOLLYWOOD & AMERICAN POP CULTURE, I THINK IT’S ONLY RIGHT TO HIGHLIGHT IT’S ANNOINTED QUEEN. HER NAME IS AISHWARYA ASH RAI, & BEAUTY IS CAPTIVATING. CHECK OUT HER BIO. ENJOY

Age: 35 years old

Birthday: November 1, 1973

Height: 5' 7"

Nicknames:

Ash

Gullu

The Queen of Bollywood

Full / Real Name: Aishwarya Krishnaraj Rai

Birthplace: Mangalore, Karnataka, India

Husband: Abhishek Bachchan

Aishwarya Rai (Ash) is one of Bollywood's pre-eminent leading ladies. This Indian darling burst upon the world stage when her striking beauty, poise and commanding intelligence won her the Miss World crown in 1994. This former architecture major soon became one of India's most famous models, landing a prestigious Pepsi campaign and appearing in Vogue magazine. India's top Bollywood directors were soon lining up to work with Ash. Aishwarya Rai's film debut in Mani Rathnam's "Iruvar" (1997) received critical acclaim and her performance in Rahul Rawail's ..."Aur Paar Ho Gaya" (1997) garnered Aishwarya Rai the Best Female Debutante Award. In 2000, Aishwarya Rai was awarded Best Actress by FilmFare and Zee Cine for her work in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam," and in that same year, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her special appearance in Aditya Chopra's "Mohabbatein." In 2001, Ash Rai was nominated for FilmFare's Best Actress Award for Satish Kaushik's "Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai."

Aishwarya Rai's star continued to rise in 2002 working again with Sajay Leela Bhansali in "Devdas." "Devdas" was the most ambitious and most successful film in Bollywood history. It became the first Bollywood picture to ever receive a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival and broke box-office records in India and the United States. Daily Variety's Derek Elley describes "Devdas" as "...some of the most sumptuous production values in Bollywood history..." Elley describes Ash Rai as "almost Audrey Hepburn-like," Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann says "I loved her in Devdas" and Julia Roberts calls her "the world's most beautiful woman."

2003 brought even more exciting opportunities. Aishwarya Rai became the first Indian actor to be a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. Ash Rai is also the latest member of the elite L'Oreal Dream Team, joining beauties Catherine Deneuve & Andie MacDowell as their international ambassador. Aishwarya Rai graced the covers of India Today and the prestigious Time Magazine. Time has also listed her on their list of the `100 Most Influential People in the World Today.' Ash Rai has graced numerous covers in numerous countries worldwide including the USA, UK, China, Russia, Israel, United Emirates, Germany, Italy, Spain and France. Aishwarya Rai was also listed on Rolling Stone Magazine's annual `Hot List', Hello Magazine's `Most Attractive Women in the World', Stuff Magazine, FHM magazine, V-Life from Variety Magazine, GQ Magazine, New York Times Magazine, Harper's & Queen and countless others.

2004 saw Aishwarya Rai take on the leading role in her first English language film in "Bride & Prejudice" for Gurinder Chadha. Ash Rai also became the first Indian female to be immortalized in wax at the world famous Madame Tussaud's wax museum in London.

Aishwarya Rai's career continues to grow even stronger-she will soon be seen in Ashutosh Gowariker's "Jodhaa Akbar" and The Queen of Bollywood is already becoming the talk of Tinseltown and is currently in negotiations on other major motion pictures.

Aishwarya Rai's other film credits include Manit Ratnam's "Guru," "The Mistress of Spices" for director Paul Berges, Jag Mundhra's "Provoked," JP Dutta's "Umrao Jaan" and Sanjay Gadhvi's "Dhoom 2."

POP CULTURE: BOLLYWOOD MEETS HULU

GREAT NEWS FOR ALL BOLLYWOOD FANS, & MOVIE FANS ALIKE, BOLLYWOOD IS COMING ONLINE TO THE FREE VIDEO STREAMING SITE, HULU. I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT HULU IS A GREAT SITE TO VISIT & BROWSE. YOU CAN CATCH UP ON YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS, ACQUIRE SOME NEW ONES, CATCH A MOVIE, CLASSIC, NEW, OR OTHERWISE, OR A HOST OF OTHER THINGS. AND NO THEY AREN’T PAYING ME FOR THIS WONDERFUL PLUG, BUT I’M WORKING ON THAT. HAHA.IN THE MEANTIME CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE. ENJOY

Bollywood Comes to Hulu

The free online video service makes deal with Saavn to stream contemporary hit films from India.

NEW YORK, NY—Saavn, the world's largest digital distributor and marketer of Bollywood entertainment and Hulu, an online video service that offers hit TV shows, movies and clips at Hulu.com and other online destination sites—all for free, anytime in the U.S., have teamed up to stream Bollywood films. The initial launch will include five contemporary hits from India, including "Sarkar," Bollywood's homage to the "Godfather." All films include English subtitles and can be found at Hulu.com in the Feature Film category.

"Making some of the best Bollywood films available on Hulu is very exciting to us," said Vin Bhat, co-founder and chief executive officer of New York-based Saavn. "One of Saavn's goals is to make Bollywood more accessible for everyone and by having these films on Hulu, we believe that more people in the U.S. will open up to the genre that is revered by billions around the world."

At launch, Hulu and Saavn will offer these Bollywood hits:

"Sarkar" (2005) - The family politics of an Indian mafia family play out on a large scale in this critically acclaimed drama. Known as the Godfather of Bollywood, this film stars beloved actor Amitabh Bachchan; in a BBC poll, Bachchan was voted as the most important star of the millennium—beating Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, and Sir Lawrence Olivier, among others.

"Hera Pheri" (2000) - Three unemployed friends accidentally intercept a ransom demand and try to make a quick buck off the misunderstanding in this rip-roaring comedy hit. This classic Indian comedy was so successful, it spawned one of Bollywood's first sequels. It stars Ashkay Kumar, Bollywood's golden boy whose films earn more money in the industry than any other star.

"Deewana" (1992) - This dramatic classic was the "king" of the Bollywood's first release, Shah Rukh Khan. Khan is arguably one of the world's most recognized figures; recently, he was the only actor named to the TIME 100, a list of global influencers. The film follows a promising singer who soon is thought to be murdered by his greedy uncle and cousins. Years later, he suddenly reappears and creates confusion for those he left behind.

Other films are romantic comedy "Hulchul" (2004) and "Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke" (2000), starring global icon and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai. More films will be released throughout the year.

CELEBRITY COUPLE

Slumdog millionaire costars dev patel & freida pinto, the lovely freida pinto, who I’ve been trying to get an interview with, are confirmed as a freaking couple. Excuse my disappointment & tone, lol, but I’m a tad salty. 1^st salma hayek, then FREIDA. IT’S A BIT MUCH TO TAKE IN THE SAME WEEK. I KNOW SALMA HAS BEEN ENGAGED FOR A MINUTE NOW, BUT UNTIL THE VOWS ARE EXXCHANGED THERE’S STILL A CHANCE. HELL, IN TODAY’S SOCIETY OF MINUTE MARRIAGES, I’LL JUST BIDE MY TIME, & SEE WHAT HAPPENS. HAHA. I DO WISH THEM THE BEST THOUGH, IN ALL HONESTY. BACK TO PATEL & PINTO. CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE & LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

After much speculation about the nature of the relationship involving Slumdog Millionaire stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, Patel's mother Anita has confirmed to a British newspaper that the pair are very much a couple.

"First it was the film and now everything else seems to have slotted into place," Mrs. Patel is quoted as saying in Monday's Daily Mirror.

"Life can't get any better for him. Freida is really beautiful, and I am really happy for them."

Her comments come just days after Patel, 19, jetted to Israel to spend a whirlwind date with the Mumbai beauty, 24. "Yes, we knew he was flying to Israel to see her," said Patel's mother.

The pair rendezvoused in Tel Aviv as Pinto took time off from filming her latest movie in Jerusalem. The couple spent a few hours together in a hotel before emerging for a stroll around the harbor and an early champagne dinner at a seaside restaurant.

Onlookers said Pinto couldn't keep her hands off Patel. The couple spent their time at the table smooching and holding hands to the delight of a group of Japanese tourists who happened to pass by.

Shortly afterwards, Patel hopped a taxi to the airport to fly back to London, while Pinto returned to her base at the American Colony Hotel in East Jerusalem.

Source: people magazine