Mumbai, May 18 - Tamil superstar Vikram, who makes his Bollywood debut with Mani Ratnam's "Raavan", says co-star Aishwarya Rai was equivalent to a hero in the film as she braved wounds, fever and insect bites while shooting in the forests. And Abhishek Bachchan, he adds, is the perfect brat.

Bollywood beauty queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan always stays the in focus of various events. This time she is news for her walk on the red carpet at Cannes opening ceremony and she did not disappoint her fans. The actress walked on the red carpet with her colleague American actress and model Eva Longoria. Rai was present there to promote her much awaited film, Mani Ratnam's 'Ravan'. The movies first look will be unveiled on 17th of May. Her husband Abhishek and Tamil actor Vikram will be present at the evening along with the filmmaker. Abhishek and Vikram are the other actors of the movie.

Mumbai, April 30 - He is a southern superstar. As Vikram steps into Bollywood at the age of 44 with "Raavan", he is acutely aware of going where perhaps no Indian actor has gone before - playing the hero in the Hindi version and the villain in the Tamil edition.

He admits to being initially scared to be part of the Hindi version of director Mani Ratnam's "Raavan" but says his co-star Aishwarya Rai's brilliant performance in the Tamil venture boosted his confidence.

Aishwarya Rai has said that she feels "confident" about doing more Tamil films only now after the multilingual "Raavan" with the National Award winning director. She started her film career with Mani Ratnam's Tamil film "Iruvar" in
1997.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been seen to play many roles including those of a mystic, a con woman and a demure Bengali beauty. The former Miss World reveals that the character of modern day Sita in ‘Raavan’, is the most demanding role in her career.

It is reported that the 36-year-old actress has been paired with her husband Abhishek Bachchan in ‘Raavan’. The movie is directed by Mani Ratnam.

It has been reported that on Saturday evening, Music Director Maniratnam’s latest project ‘Raavan’, with actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was launched.

It is said that a scintillating ceremony was planned at Yash Raj Studio, for the launch of the music album of Raavan.

It has been reported that Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was the host of the show.

Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who is playing the role of Raavan in the movie, gripped the viewers with his exhilarating performance on a song of the movie.

Mumbai, April 14 - Aishwarya Rai has three very different films coming up this year, but director Vipul Shah says his film "Action Replay" will bring to the audiences her first full-fledged comedy.

The relationship (purely professional, of course!) between Aishwarya Rai and Tamil director Mani Ratnam, is not new. It goes back to 1997, when Ash did her first movie with him.

Name of the movie was Iruvar and it created quite a ripple in the Tamil movie industry. At that time, Ash's dialogues were dubbed in Tamil by a professional since she was not very well-versed with the language.

Cut to 2010, and the story is quite different. Ash, the Holly-Bollywood actress and star is working with the same director for the movie- Raavana. And she is ready to dub the dialogues all by herself.

New Delhi, March 23 - Last year she was seen in just one film - Hollywood's "Pink Panther". But this year Aishwarya Rai has four films lined up for release - two southern projects "Ravana" and "Endhiran" as well as "Action Replay" and "Guzaarish", collectively costing over Rs. 300 crore (Rs. 3 billion).

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai has reportedly decided to stay away from the award functions which are sponsored by the newspaper company which published false reports alleging that the actress is suffering from stomach tuberculosis.

"Main nahi nachhongi (I will not dance) no matter how strong the lure of lucre," she said.

She has decided to express her anger to Mumbai Mirror by boycotting the event. The actress was scheduled to perform at the award function and has also received around Rs 85 lakh.

New Delhi, Feb 2 - Rumours were rife that Aishwarya Rai will dance to the tunes of hit number "Apni toh jaise taise", which was originally picturised on her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, in Sajid Khan's "Houseful". But sources close to her say that she is yet to accept the offer.

"Aishwarya has been approached by Sajid Khan but she has yet to revert back to them. She is busy with the shooting of 'Guzaarish', 'Action Replay' and 'Endhiran'," Aishwarya's spokesperson told IANS.

New Delhi, Jan 27 - Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan got nostalgic while filming an ad with wife Aishwarya Rai at Filmistan Studios, the same location where they gave their first shot together 11 years ago when they were mere acquaintances.

"It was here on the very same floor 11 years ago that we gave our first ever shot together. The movie was 'Dhai Akshar Prem Ke'. Great memories," Abhishek posted on his Twitter page.

New Delhi, Dec 2 - Aishwarya Rai says she is fully convinced that actor-husband Abhishek Bachchan will make a good father in real life because he is so "real and rooted".

"Everybody has been asking me if Abhishek will be a good pa (father) in connection with the release of our forthcoming production 'Paa'. I think it's silly for me to be even making the statement. It's given - I married the man. So obviously I have the conviction in the husband he is or the father he will be," Aishwarya, 36, told IANS in an interview here.

Panaji, Nov 30 : Actress Aishwarya Rai might be pitted against Ben Kingsley's wife Daniela Lavender in his dream project "Taj", a film about Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his quest to build the Taj Mahal.

"Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will play Mumtaz in the movie, if she approves the script and loves it. Daniela would be playing Kandahari Begum, Shah Jahan's first wife in the film," Kingsley told reporters in Panaji Monday.

The actor, who is here as guest of honour for the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), said he will play the emperor in the film.

Today, on her birthday, in association with own charity Aishwarya Rai Foundation, the 36 year old star Aishwarya Rai has been named the first goodwill ambassador for Smile Train, a charity that works worldwide for children with cleft lip.

The group aims to provide free cleft surgery to over one million children in 76 developing countries around the world, including India.

"There are a lot of children out there who desperately need help, but can't receive timely care because their families cannot afford this surgery or are ill-educated about this condition," said Aishwarya .

Mumbai, Oct 13 : Actress Aishwarya Rai, who was supposed to feature on Sony TV's reality show "Dance Premier League", couldn't accept the offer due to her packed schedule and not on account of money issues, her publicist said Tuesday.

New Delhi, Oct 7 : Aishwarya Rai has refuted rumours that she was to play the female lead opposite her husband Abhishek Bachchan in Ashutosh Gowariker's next "Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se". The actress says that the director knew about her packed schedule and the discussion never took place.

Recent media reports suggested that Aishwarya was to play the lead role before Asin was finalised for the film opposite actor Abhishek. But both - the actress and filmmaker - deny it.

Aishwarya Rai is tired of the past that Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi keep digging up. The actress, who is married now, wants to forget her relationships with them, move on and stay happy with her husband, Abhishek Bachchan. But the two gentlemen don’t seem to want to let go so easily.

It seems to be the season of health-based adjustments for Bollywood’s first-couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

First, an important schedule of Mani Ratnam’s Raavan got postponed because of the director’s health scare (it’s expected to resume any time now).

And now the thriller tentatively titled Crooked, which Abhishek and Aishwarya were supposed to start this summer, has been pushed to the end of the year, again for health reasons.

From Singapore to Chalakudy…. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan never had such a hectic schedule to keep up. On Monday another schedule of Mani Ratnam’s Raavan started in the distant hilly area of Kerala, just when Amar Singh whom Aishwarya was attending to, had recovered.

Illnesses in the family and at her work place have put Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s choc-a-bloc schedule under further pressure.

First it was her father and father-in-law who underwent health problems. Now it’s the Bachchans’ family friend Amar Singh whose kidney transplant in Singapore has further challenged Aishwarya’s schedules.