Aishwarya Rai was born on 1 November 1973 in Mangalore, Karnataka, India. She initially pursued her studies with an interest in architecture and began modeling during her teenage years. In 1994, she became the first runner-up at the Femina Miss India pageant and subsequently won the Miss World crown, bringing her international recognition.
She made her acting debut with the Tamil film Iruvar (1997) and made her Hindi film debut with Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997). Her breakthrough came with films such as Taal (1999) and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). Her performance as Paro in Devdas (2002) earned her widespread critical acclaim and international recognition.
Aishwarya went on to appear in successful films including Chokher Bali, Bride & Prejudice, Dhoom 2, Guru, Jodhaa Akbar, Sarkar Raj, and Guzaarish. She has also worked in international productions, expanding her presence beyond Indian cinema.
She has received several honours for her contribution to cinema, including the Padma Shri in 2009 and France's Order of Arts and Letters in 2012. She married actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007.