Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Biography: Age, Husband, Movies, Miss World & Latest News

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (born 1 November 1973) is an Indian actress and former Miss World (1994) who works mainly in Hindi and Tamil films. She debuted in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar (1997) and is known for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Guru, Jodhaa Akbar and the Ponniyin Selvan films. She received the Padma Shri in 2009, is married to actor Abhishek Bachchan and remains one of the best-known Indian faces at the Cannes Film Festival.

Aishwarya Rai Latest News (October 2026)

• October 12, 2026: Aishwarya shared a belated birthday wish for her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, who turned 84 on October 11, with a previously unseen photo that also featured Aaradhya.
• Cannes 2026: In May, she made another headline-grabbing appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, including a sculpted blue couture gown by Indian designer Amit Aggarwal. Aaradhya joined her on the red carpet again.
• June 2026: JW Marriott named her its global brand ambassador, adding to a long list of international endorsements.
• Next film: As of October 2026, she has not officially announced her next film. Her most recent release remains Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023).

Aishwarya Rai Profile, Age and Wiki

Aishwarya Rai Early Life, Family and Education

Aishwarya was born in Mangalore to Krishnaraj Rai and Vrinda Rai, and the family later moved to Mumbai. She studied at Arya Vidya Mandir and went on to D. G. Ruparel College. A strong student, she enrolled at the Rachana Sansad Academy of Architecture but left to pursue modelling as assignments began coming in.

In 1994, she finished as first runner-up at Femina Miss India and went on to be crowned Miss World 1994 in South Africa. The title made her an international name before she had acted in a single film.

Aishwarya Rai Career

Mani Ratnam Debut and Early Films (1997–1998)

Aishwarya made her film debut in Mani Ratnam’s Tamil political drama Iruvar (1997), playing a dual role. Her first Hindi film, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997), followed the same year. Shankar’s Tamil romance Jeans (1998) was a major commercial success and was India’s official submission to the Oscars that year.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas (1999–2003)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) turned her into a Bollywood star and earned her the first Filmfare Award for Best Actress. The same year, Taal showcased her dancing. She worked opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Mohabbatein (2000) and Devdas (2002). Devdas, in which she played Paro, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won her a second Filmfare Best Actress award. In 2003, she became the first Indian actress to sit on the main jury at Cannes and starred in the acclaimed Bengali film Chokher Bali.

Global Projects and Blockbusters (2004–2010)

Aishwarya moved into international cinema with Gurinder Chadha’s Bride and Prejudice (2004) and The Mistress of Spices (2005). Back home, she played a thief in Dhoom 2 (2006), starred with Abhishek Bachchan in Mani Ratnam’s Guru (2007) and played the Mughal queen in Ashutosh Gowariker’s Jodhaa Akbar (2008). In 2010, she paired with Rajinikanth in the sci-fi blockbuster Enthiran and played a nurse in Bhansali’s Guzaarish.

Selective Comeback and Ponniyin Selvan (2015–2023)

After a break following the birth of her daughter, she returned with Jazbaa (2015), followed by Sarbjit (2016) and Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016). Her most significant recent work came in Mani Ratnam’s two-part epic Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), where she played the scheming Nandini alongside Trisha, Vikram, Karthi and Jayam Ravi. Critics singled out her performance, and the films were major box-office successes.

The Cannes Constant (2002–2026)

Since her first appearance for Devdas in 2002, Aishwarya has been one of the most anticipated faces at Cannes, often representing L’Oréal Paris. In 2025, she wore an ivory Banarasi saree by Manish Malhotra; in 2026, she returned with several couture looks, including Amit Aggarwal’s sculpted blue gown. Her appearances are widely seen as a showcase for Indian designers on the global stage.

Aishwarya Rai Movies List (Selected)

Awards and Honours

• Miss World, 1994.
• Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (2000) and Devdas (2003).
• Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2009.
• Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government in 2012.
• First Indian actress on the Cannes main competition jury, 2003.

Brand Endorsements and Advocacy

Aishwarya has been one of the longest-serving global faces of L’Oréal Paris, which is why many of her Cannes appearances are linked to the brand. She has also represented the Swiss watchmaker Longines, and in June 2026 she signed on as JW Marriott’s global brand ambassador. Beyond advertising, she has worked with UNAIDS as a goodwill ambassador and has supported charitable causes such as cleft surgery for children and eye donation campaigns. These long associations show how her appeal reaches audiences that may never have watched a Hindi film.

Aishwarya Rai Personal Life

Aishwarya married actor Abhishek Bachchan, son of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, on April 20, 2007, at the Bachchan home in Mumbai. The couple first worked together in Dhai Akshar Prem Ke (2000) and went on to co-star in Kuch Na Kaho, Umrao Jaan, Guru and Raavan. Their daughter, Aaradhya, was born in November 2011 and has often accompanied her mother to Cannes.

In 2025 and 2026, the couple were seen together at family events and on holiday, and they celebrated their wedding anniversary in April 2026, quieting earlier rumours about their marriage. Through the Bachchan family, she is connected to Navya Naveli Nanda and Agastya Nanda, the children of Abhishek’s sister Shweta.

Why Aishwarya Rai Stands Out

Aishwarya was one of the first Indian actresses to become a truly global face, through beauty brands, international films and her long run at Cannes. Unlike many stars, she has worked across Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and English cinema and trusted auteurs like Mani Ratnam and Sanjay Leela Bhansali with her biggest roles. Even with long gaps between films, her public appearances still draw worldwide coverage, which few actors of any generation can claim.

Lesser-Known Facts About Aishwarya Rai

• She studied architecture before leaving to become a model.
• Her film debut, Iruvar, gave her a dual role.
• She was the first Indian actress to serve on the Cannes jury, in 2003.
• A wax figure of her was unveiled at Madame Tussauds London in 2004.
• Mani Ratnam directed her debut Iruvar as well as Guru, Raavan and both Ponniyin Selvan films.

Related Biographies

• Priyanka Chopra Biography – fellow Miss World
• Kareena Kapoor Biography
• Shah Rukh Khan Biography – co-star in Devdas
• Trisha Biography – co-star in Ponniyin Selvan
• Navya Naveli Nanda Biography – Bachchan family
• Alia Bhatt Biography
• More stars: Bollywood biographies

Aishwarya Rai FAQs

How old is Aishwarya Rai?

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was born on November 1, 1973, so she is 53 years old (as of 2026).

When did Aishwarya Rai win Miss World?

She won the Miss World title in 1994, after finishing as first runner-up at Femina Miss India that year.

Who is Aishwarya Rai’s husband?

Aishwarya is married to actor Abhishek Bachchan. They married on April 20, 2007, in Mumbai.

What was Aishwarya Rai’s last movie?

Her most recent film is Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), in which she played Nandini. She has not officially announced a new film as of October 2026.

What was Aishwarya Rai’s first film?

Her first film was Mani Ratnam’s Tamil drama Iruvar (1997). Her first Hindi film was Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, released the same year.

How many Filmfare Awards has Aishwarya Rai won?

She has won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress twice, for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas.

Has Aishwarya Rai received the Padma Shri?

Yes. The Government of India awarded her the Padma Shri in 2009.

Sources

• Wikipedia – Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
• Filmibeat – Birthday wish for Amitabh Bachchan (Oct 12, 2026)
• Bollywood Hungama – JW Marriott ambassador and Cannes 2026 coverage
• The Daily Star – Cannes 2026 lineup
• UNI – Cannes 2025 saree look