From Miss World To Icon, The Trials And Triumphs of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

It was three decades ago when Aishwarya Rai was crowned Miss World. It was a matter of time when the most beautiful woman in the world became the reigning Queen of Hearts.

The first choice of top billed directors from Mani Ratnam To Sanjay Leela Bhansali, she was the face which launched 100 brands. Long before it became routine fare for Indian actors to walk down International red carpets, endorse luxury brands, and sit on popular talk shows, Aishwarya Rai was already a veteran in the space.

Her name routinely made it to the annual list of the most beautiful women in the world, and her intelligence and wit were equally admired. So what would it be like to be in Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's shoes? Splendid would say some, perfect would say others, I would say stressful.

Her worthy achievements apart, a self-made woman who shattered the patriarchal glass ceiling to walk her talk, constantly finds herself subject to incessant trolling, rumour-mongering related to her personal life and scathing attacks. Why?

"It's pure jealousy, she has made it on her own steam, does not go on a self-promotion drive, nor does she play the victim card like some. They hate her guts", says an industry insider.

No sooner was the red carpet rolled out at Cannes, that fashion pundits and critics were on high alert, the sole agenda being to look and shred Aishwarya Rai's many fashion choices. From special news segments dedicated to various looks at Cannes over the years, to debates and social media posts dedicated to discussing her outfits, it was a national pastime we revelled in.

When she walked the red carpet, months after the birth of her daughter Aradhya, the actor was back at the festival, comfortably flaunting her postpartum body, she was brutally body shamed. "I didn't bother, there are choices. I could have taken recourse to crash diets, and gruelling workouts and looked better than before, I took the choice of being just natural," she had said then.

From fashion to films, the actor who was recently seen in Mani Ratnam's mega-hit 'Ponniyan Selvan' has borne the brunt of sermons and opinions on her career choices. In her characteristic matter-of-fact way, she says "I have chartered my course, and never had any strategy".

From playing sister to Shahrukh Khan in 'Josh' to his love interest in 'Devdas', a 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' followed by Rituparno Ghosh's 'Raincoat', and her comeback stint saw her do a Sarabjit and 'Ae Dil Ae Mushkil', the actor followed her path.

When asked once about how she felt about getting older, she shrugged and said, "Everything is transient, the tide will move and you embrace it".

But this time around her family life is favourite fodder for the many tabloids. Her 11-year-old daughter Aradhya has borne the brunt of malicious comments. In April The Delhi High Court ordered several websites to immediately stop disseminating or publishing videos of the child, circulating fake news about her health. This was perhaps the first time one had seen a reaction from the family.

Soon after rumours of her 17-year marriage to Abhishek Bachchan being in trouble started circulating. In the past few months, reams have been devoted to her estrangement from the Bachchans, headlines ranged from her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan unfollowing her on social media, her husband being seen without his wedding ring to the growing distance between her and her sister in law Shweta Nanda and mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan were constantly circulated.

But the reality was starkly different. The day a new portal announced she had left her in-laws' home, the family were spotted at daughter Aradhya's founder's day function. From attending sporting events and filmy get-togethers the family's message is loud and clear, that all is indeed well.

"A woman with no filmy Godfather, married into the most influential family of Bollywood and yet having her own identity who does not need to lean on her husband and I laws connections for a career boost, and having a mind of her own irks people, you try looking for fault," says an industry source. Further adding, "they criticize her parenting, her fashion choices, now her marriage, it's just envy".

Maybe it's time the Ash Bashing stopped and when asked what would be her response to critics and naysayers, she answered with a simple "Thank You"!