Twenty-six years ago, a former Miss World beauty pageant winner, Aishwarya Rai, made her big screen debut with Mani Ratnam’s Iruvaar. Her latest film, Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two, came out earlier this year and went on to become a blockbuster. As Aishwarya Rai celebrates her 50th birthday on November 1, we revisit her long career with five iconic songs picturised on the actress. Here’s a look.
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
Featuring Aishwarya, Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn, the title track of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) is sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy and Udit Narayan. Aishwarya delivers a compelling performance as Nandini whose expressive eyes convey her emotional turmoil as she is torn between the two male leads in the story.
Kahin Aag Lage Lag Jaave
Kahin Aag Lage Lag Jaave from Subhash Ghai’s Taal (1999) is an energetic number featuring Aishwarya and Akshaye Khanna. Composed by A.R. Rahman, the high-spirited dance number gives a glimpse of the blossoming connection between the two main characters. The lyrics compare their chemistry with a fire that sets their hearts ablaze with desire.
Bairi Piya
Sung by Shreya Ghoshal, Bairi Piya from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2002 blockbuster Devdas is picturised on Aishwarya and Shah Rukh Khan. The Ismail Darbar composition reflects the love and conflict between the two characters. Aishwarya delivers an intense performance in the music video, adding depth to her portrayal of a character from one of Bollywood’s enduring classics.
Barso Re
Sung by Shreya Ghoshal and composed by A.R. Rahman, Barso Re is from Mani Ratnam’s 2007 movie Guru, starring Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya and Mithun Chakraborty. Aishwarya’s fluid movements convey her excitement at the arrival of monsoon in the song. Her twirls, hand gestures and footwork are in harmony with the rhythm of the music, radiating the joy of the first rain of the season.
Jashn-E-Bahaaraa
Another A.R. Rahman composition, Jashn-E-Bahaaraa from Ashutosh Gowariker’s Jodha Akbar encapsulates the love between Emperor Akbar (Hrithik Roshan) and Queen Jodhaa (Aishwarya). Aishwarya’s simple expressions and graceful movements complement the Javed Ali song’s lyrics and melody, immersing viewers in the world of Mughal-era romance and regal splendour.
