Rai (now Rai-Bachchan) was born in Mangalore as the daughter of Krishnaraj Rai, a marine biologist, and Vrinda Rai, a writer. Her family belongs to the Bunt community of Mangalore. She has one elder brother, Aditya Rai, who is an engineer in the merchant navy and also co-produced one of Rai's movies, Dil Ka Rishta (2003).
After she was born, her parents moved to Mumbai (Bombay) where she attended the Arya Vidya Mandir high school in Santacruz. Rai then entered Jai Hind College at Churchgate for one year, and then moved to Ruparel College in Matunga to finish her "HSC" studies. She did well in school and planned to become an architect.
She can communicate in 5 languages :- Tulu, English, Tamil, Hindi and Marathi. While pursuing her studies in architecture, Rai began modeling on the side. In the 1994 Miss India contest, she won the second place (behind Sushmita Sen), and went on to win the Miss World title the same year, where she also won the Miss Photogenic award. She abandoned her studies after winning the pageant and spent one year reigning as Miss World in London. Rai then started working as a professional model and then moved on to her current profession as an actress.
Rai has previously dated model Rajeev Mulchandani and Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi. She is now married to Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan. The wedding took place on April 20, 2007.
Filmography
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Year | Title | Language | Role | Notes |
1997 | Iruvar | Tamil | Pushpa/Kalpana | Dubbed in Telugu as Iddaru |
Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya | Hindi | Ashi Kapoor |
|
1998 | Jeans | Tamil | Madhumitha/Vaishnavi | Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award South India's official entry to the Oscars Dubbed in Hindi and Telugu as Jeans |
1999 | Aa Ab Laut Chalen | Hindi | Pooja |
|
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam | Hindi | Nandini | Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award |
Ravoyi Chandamama | Telugu |
| Special appearance (item number) |
Taal | Hindi | Mansi | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award Dubbed in Tamil as Taalam |
2000 | Mela | Hindi | Champakali | Special appearance |
Kandukondain Kandukondain | Tamil | Meenakshi Bala | Dubbed in Telugu as Priyuraalu Pilichindi |
Josh | Hindi | Shirley |
|
Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai | Hindi | Preeti Virat | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award |
Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke | Hindi | Sahiba Grewal |
|
Mohabbatein | Hindi | Megha | Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award |
2001 | Albela | Hindi | Sonia |
|
2002 | Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam | Hindi | Suman | Cameo |
Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin | Hindi | Komal Rastogi |
|
23rd March 1931: Shaheed | Hindi |
| Cameo |
Devdas | Hindi | Parvati (Paro) | Winner, Filmfare Best Actress Award India's official entry to the Oscars |
Shakti: The Power | Hindi | Aishwarya Rai | Special appearance (item number) |
2003 | Chokher Bali | Bengali | Binodhini | Dubbed in Tamil as Aishwarya Rai Oru Perazhagi |
Dil Ka Rishta | Hindi | Tia Sharma |
|
Kuch Naa Kaho | Hindi | Namrata Shrivastav |
|
2004 | Bride & Prejudice | English | Lalita Bakshi | Dubbed in Hindi as Balle Balle! From Amritsar To L.A |
Khakee | Hindi | Mahalakshmi | First villain role |
Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na | Hindi | Diya Malhotra |
|
Raincoat | Hindi | Neerja | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award |
2005 | Shabd | Hindi | Antara Vashist |
|
Bunty Aur Babli | Hindi |
| Special appearance (item number) |
2006 | Mistress of Spices | English | Tilo |
|
Umrao Jaan | Hindi | Umrao Jaan |
|
Dhoom 2 | Hindi | Sunehri | Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award |
2007 | Guru | Hindi | Sujata |
|
Provoked | English | Kiranjeet Ahluwalia |
|
The Last Legion | English | Mira |
|
2008 | Jodhaa Akbar | Hindi | Jodhaa Bai | Releasing February 15, 2008 |
Sarkar Raj | Hindi | Neha | Releasing April 2008 |
2009 | The Pink Panther Deux | English | Sophie Solandres | Releasing February 13, 2009 |
2010 | Robot | Tamil |
| Pre-Production |
2010 | Bhopal Movie | English |