Aishwarya still on top

The lukewarm response to her recent Hollywood release Pink Panther-II has had Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (35) conceding her position as the most popular face of Bollywood in the West to the new international craze 24-year-old Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), who according to reliable sources has been signed for two films — one with Woody Allen and the second with Julian Schnabel.

Freida, who is said to have earned over two million pounds, overtaking Bollywood beauties like Aishwarya, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif is also, according to a world film distributor, being wooed to walk the red carpet at Cannes in May 2009.

On the Bollywood front, Kareena Kapoor (28) has nudged Aishwarya Rai Bachchan out of the Filmfare Top-10 Power list. But a producer from Chennai confirms that Ash is still the highest paid Indian heroine and has reportedly been paid a fee of Rs six crore for Shankar’s Robot, where she is cast opposite Rajnikant. The actor is said to have received a cheque of Rs one crore as signing amount, that is also a first. Usually it is only the leading men who receive such a big sum as a signing amount.

Reportedly, Rajnikant himself is said to come with a price tag of Rs 25 crore for the same film. He will also get a share in the profits since Robot will be released in Hindi and Tamil. The Tamil superstar will be on top of the heap even as far as Bollywood heroes’ prices go.

Regarding Aishwarya’s price, her manager Hari Singh said, “Aishwarya is definitely one of the highly paid actors in the country, but I would not like to comment on the price she has been paid.” Singh also said that exaggerated prices often made the rounds.

Closer home, Kareena Kapoor has reportedly been paid Rs 2.5 crore for Sajid Nadiadwala’s Kambakkht Ishq. Nadiadwala refuses to comment on his heroine’s price but says, “She has been paid what she deserves.”
According to him, with film corporations in the fray, there is more transparency involved and people can actually check prices. “But that is a whole load of hogwash,” says a trade consultant. “Bollywood still continues to be ambiguous with its payments. What is shown on paper is not necessarily the right price.”

Katrina Kaif is said to have been paid Rs 2 crore for Ramesh Taurani’s Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Priyanka Chopra Rs 2 crore for Vishaal Bharadwaj’s Kaminaay.

Of the leading men, Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar have last been paid Rs 21 crore for Ghajini and Singh is Kinng, plus a reported share in the profits. Shah Rukh Khan is said to have had a share in profits for Aditya Chopra’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and he is a partner on Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan, as Johar himself was quoted saying, “It is difficult to put a price tag on SRK.”

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Is Ash a thief

There’s more to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s role in Pink Panther 2 than the rumoured two minutes of screen space, it seems.

In fact, if the buzz is to be believed, the movie would be incomplete without her role. The actress is apparently playing the main villain in the movie! “She is actually the one who steals the Pink Panther diamond, and in the end, Steve Martin finds out,” says a source close to the unit of the movie.

Aishwarya plays the role of Sonia Solandres, a criminology expert, in the film. She is part of the team of detectives who are trying to find the Pink Panther diamond. But in the end, Inspector Clouseau figures out that Sonia, played by Ash, is the real culprit and no criminology expert. “The climax has a fight scene where Ash even kicks some butt and tries to flee. But eventually, she gets caught and is put behind bars,” says the source.

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Ash turns up the heat in Berlin

Check out the gorgeous actress enjoying her new found Hollywood fame as she promotes Pink Panther 2 at various events across Europe with co-stars Jean Reno and Steve Martin. She is the only actress in the film who is accompanying the veteran actors on the promotional tour.

The Pink Panther 2 Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 13


The utterly gorgeous Ash poses with Jean Reno and Steve Martin at the premiere of the film


We like Ash's make up, the hot pink and the top portion of the gown replete with her abundant cleavage but it looks like a frock that was converted to a gown. It should have been longer as well.


The Pink Panther 2 Press Conference at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 13


Indian beauty Aishwarya greets everyone with the traditional Namaste. Her hair is perfect and the make up enhances her beautiful eyes


Ash and Pink Panther wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. Her suit fits her very well and she looks elegant.


The Pink Panther 2 photo call in Madrid on February 11


Aishwarya poses with her co-stars Jean Reno, Steve Martin and the pink diamond at the photo call.


Ash's hair, make up and smile is perfect but the loose and oversized suit looks like it belongs to hubby Abhishek Bachchan. She should have worn something more fitting


The Pink Panther 2 Pink Diamond promotional event in Paris on February 10


With the pink carpet, pink wall and the pink diamond, it is an overdose of pink! Jean Reno, Steve Martin and Aishwarya unveil the pink diamond to the media. The velvet coat and loose pants are oversized and don't look very good.


Along with the pink diamond, Aishwarya's shows off the other rock sized rings on her finger.

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B'wood jazzes up the Pink Panther 2 Premiere in NY

Amitabh braved the snowstorms to be by Abhishek and Aishwarya's side at the Pink Panther 2 premiere in New York. Anil Kapoor walked the red carpet too - looks like all the Slumdog bashing has been forgotten. But we can't help but ask where is mummy Jaya?

Threesome: Aishwarya with hubby Abhi and Pa Amitabh. Don't they miss Jaya Bachchan?


Haath Na Chhodo: As usual, the madly-in-love couple is hand-in-hand. Looks like Abhi is dragging Ash off the pink carpet


Beauty in Black: Ash sparkles in her black gown which shows off her ample assets


Millionaire Man: Anil Kapoor is basking in the Slumdog Millionaire glory and the international media can't get enough of him.

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Ash back on Bollywood screens after 18 months

Aishwarya Rai will be seen in the Hollywood film Pink Panther 2 which comes to India in the summer. But Ash isn't the lead actress in it. So how long will fans of her Bollywood films have to wait to see the beauty set the screen on fire again?

Ash had two releases in 2008: Jodhaa Akbar and Sarkar Raj. Both the films did well at the box office and Ash's performance was appreciated in both. Jodhaa Akbar released in February while Sarkar Raj released in June 2008. Ash, who is currently in New York for the premiere of Pink Panther 2, will return to India after a fortnight to resume filming for Mani Ratnam's Raavan.

Mani Ratnam's Raavan which is set to release at the end of 2009 is most likely to be Ash's next Hindi release after Sarkar Raj in June 2008. The film also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Vikram, Govinda and Manisha Koirala. The film is a modern day re-telling of the Ramayana. Ash will play Sita, a contemporary accomplished Carnatic musician while Vikram is Rama and Abhishek is Raavan. Ash is also shooting for the Tamil version of the film, Ashokavanam, which will release at the same time as Raavan. Both the films have been shot in the interiors of South India.

After Raavan and Ashokavanam, Ash's next release is Shankar's sci-fi special-effects laden thriller Endhiran with Rajnikanth. The film has been shot in the exotic locales of Peru and Brazil in South America and Goa in India. Ash will be seen in colourful costumes in this film. The plot of the film revolves around Ash and Rajnikanth who is a couple. The twist in the story is that Rajnikanth invents a robot called Endhiran who also falls in love with Ash. The film will release in April 2010.

By the time the films release, Ash's Indian fans would have waited for well over a year to see their favourite actress back on their Bollywood screen again.

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Ash is all geared!

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who recently completed Sarkar Raj for Bollywood with her legendary father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, is now looking forward to her Hollywood release Pink Panther 2 with that great actor Steve Martin.

The beautiful actress cannot stop raving about the veteran American actor. “He’s fantastic. An institution. He has unbelievable comic timing and such energy. It’s incredible how hard he works at his age on the physical comedy. Just like Pa! Pink Panther 2 is completely Steve Martin’s film,” said Ash, adding, “what makes my role special is that they haven’t specified my nationality. Nor have I been made to put on any accent. In fact, every other character is culture-specific. Except mine. That was really nice. We all have done our best. And when we started shooting in Paris, Abhishek was with me, so it was very nice.”

However, Ash refuses to admit that Pink Panther 2 being an international project was extra special to her. “I’m not one to compare assignments. For me Chokher Bali in Kolkata was as precious as Pink Panther 2 in Boston. But, yes, Gurinder Chadha’s Bride & Prejudice and her husband’s Mistress Of Spices had a lot of Indians in the crew, so I felt at home.” And to set the record straight, Ash said, “ The Last Legion with Sir Ben Kingsley was my first fully-fledged international project. It was such a fantastic experience.”

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