Mumbai, August 15: India’s best export to the West, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been the biggest global icon of the country — either through her exploits in Hollywood or by her mega global endorsementsor even when she represents the country at several world events. Ash is the face of the Indian film fraternity in the West and she knows it is a huge responsibility.
“I have always recognised the responsibility of it. I do take pleasure in it. I do not perceive it as a pressure. I take pride in it, I do my level best to contribute to it and that has been my journey so far,” Aishwarya tells Media. She adds, “We are a huge force in having the world recognise that. I’m very, very proud. Our presence across the gamut, the world over, is immensely strong.”
What has been very interesting about her advent and thereaftermemorable journey of 15 years in showbiz is that Ash has become a symbol of the change that the country was witnessing within. “I will put it down as coincidence,” she asserts.
When globalisation hit India, Ash was already a global name as she was a Miss World and had big- ticket Hollywood offers. When corporatisation hit Bollywood, she was already signing contracts as a model and then as an actor. When women in Tinseltown were no longer willing to be seen as just eye candy, Ash was already a leading lady carrying the responsibility of a movie on her own shoulders, a domain that only male stars were trusted with as they are still seen as safer box office bets.
——Agencies