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  • Aaradhya's First Birthday
  • Rajesh Khanna's funeral live
  • Baby Aaradhya Caught on Camera
  • Ash Raise Funds For AIDS
  • Aradhya Bachchan....
  • 57th Idea Filmfare Awards 2011 
  • Colors Screen Awards 2012 photos
  • BIG Star Entertainment Awards 2011
  • Aishwarya Rai's baby looks like Abhishek
  • Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has given birth to a baby Girl :)
  • Congratulations to Bachchans,  Ash is pregnant :)
  • Aishwarya at SRK house
  • Ranbir Kapoor's MASTI at the Filmfare Awards 2011...
  • Ash to sue Elle
  • Kingfisher Calendar 2011 video
  • Salman Khan Praises Aishwarya
  • MNS objects to Ash Smoking
  • Ranbir Praises Salman Khan
  • I am still a student - Aishwarya Rai
  • Aishwarya Rai Birthday 2010
  • Aishwarya Rai’s Birthday
  • Action Replayy Akshay Aishwarya Randhir
  • Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Refuses Documentary
  • I wish happiness for Aishwarya: Salman Khan
  • Aishwarya Rai in 3 Mistakes
  • Aishwarya Rai with Kate Winslet
  • Aishwarya has been busy with Four films
  • Aishwarya Rai – NDTV Icons of the Year
  • Aishwarya Rai boycotts award function
  • TB preventing Aishwarya Bachchan from pregnancy?
  • SRK This is your new Innings - Congratulations
  • Aishwarya Rai being offered Rs 10 crore!
  • Apsara Awards 2010 
  • SRK breaks the ice for Vivek and Ash
  • Aishwarya Rai In Dabboo Ratnani Calendar 2010
  • Abhishek And Ash Has Decided To Bring In New Year In Goa
  • Aishwarya Rai Bachchan To Play An Old Lady
  • After recent controversy now involving Jaya Bachchan
  • Aishwarya Rai promotes education for girls
  • Aishwarya Rai at IIFA closing performance 
  • IIFA 2009 Winners 
  • Forged documents halt Mani Ratnam's Ravan
  • Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to perform at IIFA Awards in Macau
  • Karan Johar's Birthday
  • Aishwarya Rai Barbara Mori Fight
  • Fight Between Aishwary Rai and Sonam Kapoor At Cannes
  • Abhishek Aishwarya own house Naivedya, in Bandra
  • Ash not to work with Salman, Vivek
  • Abhishek Aishwarya Anniversary
  • Aishwarya Rai to contest elections?
  • Astrology Predictions 2009 for Bollywood
  • Abhi-Ash to sing for 'Raavana'
  • Aishwarya Rai in Pink Panther 2
  • Aishwarya -Hrithik in Bhansali’s next
  • November 1st. - Aishwarya Rai Bachchan turns 35
  • Aishwarya's father admitted to hospital
  • Aishwarya Rai Tax Problems
  • I would have slapped him - Jaya Bachchan
  • Ash to play sex worker in H'wood flick
  • Aishwarya, Abhishek buy home in Dubai
  • Ash-Abhi in Miami for first wedding anniversary
  • It’s Official! Ash Is The Highest Paid Actress
  • AISH ON WORLD TOUR IN JULY
  • JODHA AKBAR: review
  • Amitabh buys land for 'Aishwarya' girls' school
  • 2008 will be an 'international' year for Aishwarya Rai
  • Is Aishwarya pregnant?
  • Advice from Aishwarya Rai
  • Abhi-Ash wedding - Friends Why not Invited??
  • Abhishek  Aishwarya  prayed at the Tirupati temple
  • Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan were married and more....
  • Janhavi Kapoor cut her wrist outside the Bachchan residence
  • Aishwarya Wedding Details!
  • On the invitee list no Khans
  • Abhishek, Aishwarya to marry in April 20
  • Guru....
  • Aishwarya with Steven Spielberg
  • IIFA Awards 2012
  • Mukesh Ambani celebrates Sachin's 100 at House
  • Zee Cine Awards 2012 Winners ...
  • Ash-Abhi planning a holiday at London
  • Ash daughter would get her name on Makar Sankranti
  • Aishwarya Signs Multi Crore Deal
  • Farah Khan’s Housewarming
  • Sunny Leone Profile
  • Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Comeback
  • Aishwarya’s Baby Shower Ceremony
  • Ash sends legal notice to Madhur
  • Ash is new Dream Girl - Hema Malini
  • Aishwarya Rai Calendar 2011
  • Aishwarya Lost Her Bags
  • Aishwarya Pregnancy Rumours
  • Aishwarya Rai Secret tid
  • Ash Refuses film with Brad Pitt
  • Abhishek carried Aishwarya in his arms
  • Aishwarya Rai's  Raavan
  • Aishwarya Rai In 2010 Cannes Film Festival
  • Ash holidays
  • Miss Universe
  • How Abhishek proposed me : Aishwarya
  • I am not going to allow finances and commerce to come in between
  • Aishwarya Rai-Akshay Kumar To Pay Tribute to Bollywood Couples
  • Aishwarya Rai to star opposite Ben Kingsley in ‘Taj’
  • Abhi-Aish in Obama State dinner wish list
  • Aishwarya Rai the New Head of ABCL
  • There are certain people who are --- Vipul Shah
  • Aishwarya - Hrithik to sing 1st. time for Sanjay Leela Bhansal
  • Aishwarya Rai is busy
  • Aishwarya, Abhishek to get Rs 25 crore for a soap Ad!
  • Ash is Plastic and all over - Vivek Oberoi - video
  • Aishwarya Rai & Hrithik Roshan In “Guzaarish”
  • Aishwarya Madhuri judging a dance reality show
  • Aishwarya threatenes legal action over baseless statements
  • Hema praises Aishwarya
  • Aishwarya Rai received Padma Shri
  • Vishal Bhardwaj and Aishwarya Rai
  • Ash's bhabhi Shrima Rai wins Gladrags Mrs.India 2009
  • Ash upset with Priyanka
  • I do try my best to live a normal life : Aishwarya Rai
  • Filmfare Awards: 2009
  • Aishwarya on Forbes List
  • Ash won't accept award without Dad
  • Aishwarya awarded the Padma Shree
  • Star Screen Awards
  • Aishwarya Rai upset
  • 'Drona' Premiere 
  • ShahRukh - Ash at Drona premiere
  • Ash and Abhishek in love triangle
  • Aishwarya Rai : turns singer for ‘Raavan’
  • Aishwarya to get Rs 6 crore?
  • Aishwarya  with Rajani Kanth
  • Abhishek-Ash as Rama and Sita
  • After 5 years, Abhishek finally keeps his promise to Aishwarya
  • Abhishek learns Aishwarya's dance steps for Unforgettable tour
  • Aishwarya Rai's simple diet and exercises
  • Aishwarya Rai play Benazir Bhutto.
  • Abhi-Ash visit Kadapa dargah - Oh baby! Is Aishwarya on the family way? 
  • Aishwarya's "Karva Chauth"
  • Aishwarya Rai to star in Ben Kingsley movie on Taj Mahal
  • Abhishek Bachchan: not without my wife
  • Aishwarya Rai has been asked to help promote a new vibrating condom
  • Aishwarya Rai wants to continue acting
  • Aishwarya pregnancy announcement
  • Life after marriage - Aishwarya
  • Aishwarya Rai & Abishek Bachan’s Honeymoon
  • Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan - Court summons and more
  • Ashi-Abhi wedding media rights sold
  • Ash-Abhi to wed on March 19 at the Umaid Bhavan Palace in Jodhpur
  • Ash-Abhishek get engaged.........
  • Review: Guru (Hindi; 2007)
  • Keep off my private life, please: Abhishek........
  • Shah Rukh wants to work with Aishwarya again!........
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    Aishwarya pregnancy announcement


    Life after marriage - Aishwarya


    Aishwarya Rai & Abishek Bachan’s Honeymoon


    Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan - Court summons and more


    Abhi-Ash wedding - Friends Why not Invited??


    Abhishek  Aishwarya  prayed at the Tirupati temple


    Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan were married and more....


    Janhavi Kapoor cut her wrist outside the Bachchan residence


    Aishwarya Wedding Details!


    On the invitee list no Khans


    Abhishek, Aishwarya to marry in April 20


    Ashi-Abhi wedding media rights sold


    Ash-Abhi to wed on March 19 at the Umaid Bhavan Palace in Jodhpur



    Miss Universe 2007

    Abhi & Ash in great company 
    February 22, 2007 - 03:51 IST 
     Huzan Fraser and Beena Menon of Tourism Ireland have made a unique offer to Amitabh Bachchan. In fact, the proposal is for Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, but has rightly been sent to the Big B for approval.

    In a letter to Bachchan Sr., Tourism Ireland has made an offer for their [Abhi-Ash] honeymoon in Ireland. The letter states: “We are really happy to learn about the forthcoming wedding of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai. Although we understand that the wedding dates are yet to be finalized, we would like to make an offer for their honeymoon in Ireland. 

    “Ireland has been host to some of the most celebrated weddings and honeymoons in the world. Tourism Ireland would be happy to offer air tickets to Ireland with accommodation at Ashford Castle. Some of the eminent personalities who have stayed at Ashford Castle are George V of England, President and Mrs. Reagan, Brad Pitt, Pierce Brosnan, Fred Astaire, Rod Stewart and Russell Crowe. 

    “Ashford is a 13th century castle located half-an-hour away from Galway on the shores of Lough Corrib. This was originally the home of the renowned Guinness family. We do hope the couple will accept this offer.”



    Five odds in Abhishek-Aishwarya relationship!
    Age odd!
    Abhishek is destined to marry a gal elder than him. Remember Jr. Bachchan’s earlier engagement with actress Karishma Kapoor, she was two year older to him; however they haven’t tied the knot finally.
    And now whom Abhishek is going to marry, Aishwarya Rai, is also found three years older than him. Abhishek’s born in 1976, February 5 and Aishwarya in 1973, November 1.
    We hope the age factor will not create any trouble in their conjugal relationship in future.
     
    Ash-Abhishek get engaged.........


    Review: Guru (Hindi; 2007)

    Keep off my private life, please: Abhishek........


    Shah Rukh wants to work with Aishwarya again!........


    Guru....


    “I’m certainly not getting married on February 19,” Abhishek!
    Those had thought that Abhishek-Aishwarya's engagement has put the half-year-long speculations about their much-talked about marriage to the rest, are suddenly waked up to a new bunch of rumours about their marriage date. Some newspapers and TV channels had already zeroed in on February 19. Bu neither Bachchans and nor Rais has confirmed the date yet. Yesterday in a TV channel, Amitabh Bachchan said there would be an announcement as soon as the wedding date was fixed. Friends of both families say the saat pheras should take place within the year. And as per Abhishek Bachchan is concerned, he clearly said in an interview that he's not getting married on February 19. 
    "I'm certainly not getting married on February 19. I wonder which media pundit decided on that date. Absurd,” said a vexed-up Abhishek. 
    ”A wedding date is sacrosanct…when it's decided I'll let you know,” assured Jr. Bachchan.

    Aishwarya Rai Prayers in Pushkar
    Jaipur, Dec 28.2006. Bollywood's glamour queen Aishwarya Rai Thursday visited the Hindu pilgrim town of Pushkar and offered prayers at the famous Brahma temple. "Aishwarya Rai came here in the morning and offered her prayers at the Lord Brahma temple," a temple priest told IANS on telephone.
    Pushkar, 140 km from here, has the only temple dedicated to Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, which was built in the 14th century. The town also has a lake that is considered holy by the Hindus. Aishwarya's visit, however, charged up the serene atmosphere of the pilgrim town. There was commotion as priests fought among themselves to decide who would offer puja for the actress. The priests were not amused when Aishwarya's security personnel tried to quieten them. Some of them said the guards were drunk. The actress had offered prayers at the famous Sankat Mochan temple of Varanasi in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh Nov 27 along with superstar Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek. Aishwarya reportedly visited the shrine of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer Thursday, but the dargah committee refused to confirm or deny the reports. The actress has been spending time in Jaipur shooting for Ashutosh Gowrikar's mega epic "Jodha-Akbar", starring her and Hrithik Roshan in the lead roles.


    Some more on Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan 'wedding'
    (27 December, 2006) Another rumour has been added to the supposed wedding of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan .
    Rumours are that Ash and Abhishek are set to tie knot on February 19.
    According to sources, Bachchans' family astrologer has given the nod for ceremony soon after the release of their new film Guru . According to him February 19 is the ideal time for the couple to wed, as Ash's celestial planetary position will become compatible.
    The wedding reception will be held in Mumbai at the Santacruz Hyatt and the who’s who of Bollywood will attend the event. Neeta Lulla and Anna Singh will design the wedding dress for Ash and Abhishek respectively.
    Sources claim that Ash and Abhishek recently made an announcement at a friend’s party that they would be tying the knot, however the media will not be allowed to get an inside peak at one of the most happening events of Bollywood.
    In the meanwhile Ash will accompany Abhishek and family for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
    Ash and Abhishek have starred together in films like Dhai Akshar Prem Ke , Kuch Naa Kaho , recently-released Umrao Jaan and Dhoom 2 .


    Aishwarya Rai on JWT's top 70 watch-list of 2007
    (27 December, 2006) 
    MUMBAI: Global advertising agency JWT has listed 'Seventy Things to Watch in 2007' and one of them to feature on the list is Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai. The list comprised 70 "in" products, services and trends that will help to define 2007.
    Rai along with Hrithik Roshan took Bollywood by storm with the recently released Yash Raj Films' Dhoom:2. The year also saw J.P Dutta's Umrao Jaan with Rai opposite Abhishek Bachchan. Films of the actress that one can watch for in the coming year are Mani Ratnam's Guru (opposite Abhishek Bachchan), Ashutosh Gowarikar's Jodha-Akbar (opposite Hrithik Roshan) and Jagmohan Mundhra's Provoked: A True Story.

    Also in the pipeline are Ram Gopal Verma's Sarkar 2, which also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan. The film is slated to release next year and will be presented by Anil Ambani owned Adlabs Films.

    On the Hollywood front, Rai's film The Last Legion directed by Doug Lefler is also slated to release next year. The film co-stars Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley.

    "Trends are illustrated by the products and services that exemplify them. By examining what resonates with consumers, we can identify the larger patterns that will shape our lives in the years to come," says JWT Worldwide executive vice president and chief marketing officer Marian Salzman, who is also the co-author of the new book Next Now - a travelogue into the near future.

    "As globalization continues to make our world seem smaller, localization will come to a head in 2007. We'll put great emphasis on sourcing everything from food to textiles. Decadent and excessive consumption will fall to the wayside as we stress quality, minimal environmental impact and support of local producers," says JWT director of trendspotting Ann Mack.



    11 Dec, 2006
    Aishwarya Rai rides an elephant for Jodha-Akbar
    Now that her problems with the customs department have ended , there are joyful tidings for Aishwarya Rai. She's back in Jaipur shooting with Hrithik Roshan for Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodha-Akbar. 

    "It's going great!" Ash exults from Jaipur as she prepares for the day's shoot . So has she done any horse riding and sword-fighting as yet? "None of the above. But I rode an elephant for a scene . And his name was Lakhi. After Dhoom 2 and its hi-tech ambience and accessories , entering a world of elephants and Mughal grandeur is a true culture shock. And a real challenge for both Hrithik and me after Dhoom. But what's the life of an actor without challenges? I’m at a stage in my career where I need to constantly re-invent myself." 

    About the elephant ride, Ash explains with a giggle, “It wasn't exactly a unique experience. I've ridden an elephant before for Gurinder Chaddha's Bride & Prejudice, though very briefly. In Jodha-Akbar everything is far more elaborate. I guess I must be the only actress of my generation to have taken two elephant rides."

    Ash's lawyer denies receiving cash
    11 Dec, 2006
    MUMBAI: The lawyer for film star Aishwarya Rai denied on Sunday that the former Miss World had received about Rs 50 lakh in hawala money last year after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) reopened an old investigation into the matter.
    Kulkarni said that Rai "was shocked and she said that it was unfortunate that she had been targetted with such allegations though her accounts were totally clean". Sources said that the ED's revival of the investigation into a 2005 case raises several questions.

    The alleged transaction was for an event which was to be held in Dubai sometime in 2003-04. The ED found evidence of alleged hawala payments by a Dubai event manager to his Indian agent, one Manun Thakur Talenting, when they raided the latter's Andheri office in mid-2005. 

    A laptop owned by Manun allegedly revealed the receipt of a few crores of rupees via the hawala route. Since Manun could account for only Rs 7 lakh of the money received, the ED suspected that actors—including Rai, Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea—who were to participate in the event were paid by Manun.
    The raid also revealed payments to other persons, including some businessmen. Though the ED did investigate those businessmen, it left the celebrity actors alone. Now the probe against Rai has been revived, though ED sources remained tight-lipped throughout Sunday. Sources said it was odd that the ED had waited all this while to take up the probe against the actors. Rai's growing closeness to the Bachchan family is being seen as a possible reason for the ED reviving a part of the probe, a source said.
    Sources said that the alleged payments were meant for a show that did not eventually take place. Even if the money was allegedly for the "booking amount" to be paid to the actors before the show, it was unclear why the payments had come in 2004-05. 
    The Customs department's separate probe into the mystery parcel that contained 23,000 euros and arrived from Rotterdam is also still on, despite the Customs giving Rai a clean chit.

    VARANASI: If the owners of a prominent retail store here are to be believed, Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai departed from the city not just with prasad of Kashi Vishwanath and Sankat Mochan temples, but also with signature Banarasi saris worth Rs 50,000. 
    After offering prayers at two prominent temples in this city on Monday, Aishwarya apparently sent one of the persons hosting her and Bachchans to Jalans, a retail shop in Kabira Complex in Durgakund locality, to fetch some choice Banarasi saris. 
    "As many as 11 saris of different hues including Banarasi Jamawar, Banarasi Katan and Khaddi georgette, worth Rs 50,000 were procured from our shop presumably for Aishwarya Rai,"said Vishnu Jalan, the shop-owner, adding that the saris cost between Rs 3,500 and Rs 5,500


    Ash prays to please Mars Bachchan parivar at Almighty door
    November 27, 2006. Aishwarya Rai accompanied Bollywood’s first family to the fabled Kashi Vishwanath temple this morning to try and wash an unhappy blemish off her horoscope that might pose a threat to her future husband. Astrologer says kundalis are "perfectly matched"Ultimately, everyone was left guessing, was it the Bachchan family's way of flaunting the new 'bahu', a chance appearance by Bollywood's reigning diva with the industry's first family, Abhishek's idea of mixing religion with pleasure or a publicity stunt for the promotion of 'Dhoom-2'? Neither anyone from the Bachchan family, nor Aishwarya, not even the eminently outspoken Amar Singh said a word to the media. But all signals emanating from Varanasi point to a family blockbuster in the making. The celebrated entourage left with the question they had arrived with, Is the Abhishek-Aishwarya wedding finally on the cards? Right from the late night landing of the celebrities in two private planes at the Varanasi airport on Sunday to their departure on Monday afternoon, each entry and exit was shrouded in secrecy. 
    A journalist, who followed the family all along,  that when Aishwarya, dressed in a simple salwar-kurta and shawl, arrived at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple for the 'mangal arati' at 2.45 am on Monday morning, "her face and body language reflected a gravity unique of someone who had come with a strong resolution".
    Abhishek, in a kurta-pyjama with a shawl wrapped around his shoulders to keep the early morning cold away, also looked "serious". Aishwarya remained quiet throughout the trip. Most of the time she was seen close to Abhishek's sister Shweta.
    "The Bachchans were here to perform a 'puja'nothing special about it. They have been coming here to offer prayers quite often," was all that Chandramouli Upadhyay, the family's purohit and reader at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) would say. Those in the know of things remember him as the one who performed the rituals at the marriage of Shweta. 
    He said both Abhishek and Aishwarya are 'manglik' (having the influence of Mars in their horoscopes), and that the Bachchans had indeed asked him about a 'mangal dosh' in Aishwarya's horoscope. To persistent questioning by reporters, Upadhyay said: "I have told you what I knew… I have not been consulted regarding any wedding plans." Varanasi-based astrologer and horoscope expert Pt. PC Upadhyay who has studied  horoscopes of both Aishwarya and Abhishek told DNA: "The 'kundlis' (of Abhishek and Aishwarya) are perfectly matched, both of them have 'rajyoga'if they are indeed planning to get married. February 2007 would be the best time."
    The Bachchans were at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple from 3 to 4 am. Here they participated in the 'mangal arati' after which they also performed the 'rudra-abhishek' which is supposed to propitiate Lord Shiva to remove problems in any new work that a devotee might be undertaking.
    Between 5 and 6 am, they were at the Sankat Mochan Temple consecrated to Lord Ganesh where the 'maha-mrityunjay jaap', 'Ganesh stuti', 'Hanuman stuti', and 'Durga navaran' rituals were performed.


    MUMBAI: An onscreen kiss has sent Bollywood’s hottest romance tumbling into rough weather. The year-long Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai relationship recently hit turbulence when the Bachchans were invited to Yashraj Studio for an exclusive preview of Dhoom2 . Aishwarya too had flown down from Jaipur where she is shooting for Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Akbar-Jodha with Hrithik. 

    Sources said Aishwarya's liplock with Hrithik in the film didn't go down well with the Bachchans. And the entire family of actors was not appreciative of Ash’s acting prowess in the said scene. Until now Aishwarya, despite offers from Hollywood, had steadfastly maintained a no-kissing policy. 

    A close family friend confirms that though he was aware there were some passionate scenes between Hrithik and Ash, Abhishek was "very, very upset" on seeing the finished product. The full impact hit him only when he saw it on screen, says the friend, and he made his objection clear to Aishwarya.

    Over the week, instead of celebrating the release of yet another film featuring them together, Aishwarya and Abhishek have been confronting uncomfortable questions that the kiss has thrown up in their relationship. Sources said her skimpy costumes too have not gone down well with the first family of Bollywood. "They are wondering where was the need for Aishwarya to change her demure image at this stage and agree to a full-blown kiss on film," said the friend. 

    While Ash is maintaining a studied silence on the controversy, she reportedly attended the birthday party of the children of Abhishek’s sister, Shveta Nanda at her residence in Delhi, and was said to have behaved as if nothing was amiss. When asked about the kissing scene, Ash’s co-star and Abhishek’s childhood buddy Hrithik simply laughed it off and refused to comment. Obviously, Abhishek fails to find the humour in it.



    What cash? asks Aish
    16 Nov, 2006. MUMBAI: Come Monday, the New Customs House at Ballard Estate is likely to be visited by a high-profile visitor. Actor Aishwarya Rai's father Krishna Raj Rai, who met customs commissioner A K Prasad on Wednesday, assured him that his daughter would report to the office after completing her shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker's 'Akbar Jodha'. The unit is at present in Jaipur. 

    Aishwarya has been asked to go to the Customs office to record her statement in connection with a parcel 
    that arrived from Rotterdam in September. 

    The parcel, addressed to the filmstar, which came to the foreign post office, contained 23,000 euros, a DVD player, two Nokia mobile phones, a pair of binoculars and a Ralph Lauren Polo Sport shirt. The sender, a certain Avineshwar, had not declared the cash, which, customs officers say, amounts to smuggling. Avineshwar is believed to be an event manager who had organised a show featuring the actress in Amsterdam last year. 

    Rai Sr reportedly told the commissioner that his daughter will cooperate in the investigation and would appear before the officials on Monday or Tuesday. Sources said Rai was with the commissioner for about 15 minutes.

    Aishwarya continues to maintain that she does not know Avineshwar and has denied all knowledge of any parcel being sent to her. She has also insisted that she had received no summons or communication from the customs department. The two letters sent to her by the department were sent to her Khar address. The actress now lives in Bandra, and the letters from customs may not have been delivered to her.

    Avineshwar's complete address is known to the department but they have not yet established contact with him. Sources said the directorate of revenue intelligence might be asked to ascertain the details from Rotterdam.

    Customs officials, on their part, declined to reveal anything about him, while commissioner Prasad was not willing to disclose what Aishwarya's father had told him about the parcel or the sender. Customs is now trying to establish whether there is a professional or personal contact between the actress and Avineshwar. 

    Film industry sources said the whole episode smacks of a crude prank played on the actress by an enemy. "It is difficult to believe that a genuine well-wisher would send her money in a manner that would land her in trouble with the law," they said.


    Who is the most beautiful woman in the world? Half a century ago, Hollywood would have presented her to us. Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman or perhaps Elizabeth Taylor.

    But today? Correspondent Bob Simon reports the woman who currently holds the title, at least according to thousands of Web sites, Internet polls and even Julia Roberts, is someone you've probably never heard of.

    Her name is Aishwarya Rai, and she is an actress living and working in Bombay, India. The reigning queen of Indian cinema, and also a classically trained dancer, Rai has starred in 24 films over the last seven years.

    That may seem like a lot of movies, but Bollywood, India’s film capital, is famous for churning out more movies a year than Hollywood. Three new films are produced and distributed worldwide every day, attracting a global audience of 5 billion people. That’s twice the reach of Hollywood.

    The reason Bollywood films have such universal appeal is because they’re squeaky-clean. There are no sex scenes, not even kissing. Every time you think someone’s going to do it, they'll burst into song instead.

    "I'd assume that's really a reflection of our society," Rai says, when asked to explain the films' modesty. "Of course people kiss and of course people have a very healthy love life. This is the land of the Kama Sutra. But nevertheless, in our society you don't really see people around the street corner kissing or being extremely, overtly, physically demonstrative publicly. They do it privately but not publicly."

    Unlike some of her Hollywood counterparts, Rai's very much like the women she portrays: wholesome, dutiful and deeply religious. So much so, she insisted we visit her favorite temple for this interview. It’s more than 200 years old and every week more than 100,000 people come from all over India to make offerings and pray to Lord Ganesh, the half-elephant/half-man Hindu god of happiness.

    At the temple, Rai started attracting more worshippers than Lord Ganesh.

    She says being treated as sort of a goddess in this way, "makes me feel guilty. I'll be very honest. When there's a distraction at the place of worship I kinda get a bit guilty. And I kind of say, 'Lord, forgive me. This isn't intended.'"

    Despite the attention, Rai says she doesn’t think much about the way she looks.

    "I am really OK with the way I look, It's fine," she says. "All this is transient. I mean, it's really, you know, it changes with time, and that's the external."

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