Whether it is dancing in the rain or performing a tango on stage, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan never fails to leave us stunned with her footwork. Since her debut in Mani Ratnam’s Tamil film Iruvar in 1997, the former Miss World has left us mesmerised by her acting skills and dance moves. As Aishwarya turns 49, we take a look at five of her best dance performances in Hindi cinema.

Nimbooda Nimbooda – Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999)

The song Nimbooda Nimbooda from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 1999 romantic drama Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is a perfect example of how Aishwarya can make songs memorable with her dance performance. In the popular Rajasthani folk number sung by Kavita Krishnamurhty, Aishwarya delivers a high-energy dance routine with synchronised steps, choreographed by Saroj Khan.

Kahin aag lage lag jaave– Taal (1999)

Alongside a love story, Subhash Ghai’s Taal was also about showcasing Aishwarya’s talent as a dancer. From the rainy dance in Taal se taal mila to a groovy number like Ramta jogi, Aishwarya lived up to her character’s billing as a promising singer-dancer. In Kahin aag lage lag jaave, sung by Asha Bhosle, the actress left us mesmerised by her complicated yet graceful moves, choreographed by Shiamak Davar, along with a bunch of talented dancers.

Silsila ye chaahat ka – Devdas (2002)

Aishwarya’s talent has always shined through in period dramas. In the 2002 Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed romantic drama Devdas, Silsila ye chaahat ka, sung by Shreya Ghoshal, is Aishwarya’s introductory song as Paro. It shows Paro longing for the return of her childhood friend Dev (Shah Rukh Khan) whom she is in love with. She runs through her house, saving a diya — the symbol of Dev’s lifespan in the movie — from her friends, the breeze and even a downpour of rain to keep it lit.

Salaam – Umrao Jaan (2006)

Under J.P. Dutta’s direction, Aishwarya played the role of Ameeran/Umrao Jaan, a young courtesan who falls in love with Nawab Sultan (Abhishek Bachchan), in this remake of the 1981 film Umrao Jaan, starring Rekha. Aishwarya’s performance in Salaam, sung by Alka Yagnik and composed by Javed Akhtar, serves as an act of serenading Nawab Sultan. Her graceful moves and hand movements stood out in this song sequence.

Crazy kiya re – Dhoom 2 (2006)

Aishwarya’s peppy dance in Crazy kiya re from Dhoom 2 showed the actress in a new avatar. The song, sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, is an enticing number, with Aishwarya clad in leather clothes grooving to the music. Her bronzed look as the clever thief, Sunehri, remains one of her more iconic looks from her filmography.