Tinseltown’s golden girl is still a gem

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan seems to be making a move towards a Bollywood comeback, if a recent photo shoot is anything to go by. The star posed for an ad campaign for India’s Kalyan Jewellers and looked stunning. OneIndia.in reports…

A SLIMMER Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stunned her fans when she appeared in an advertising photo shoot for the high-end Indian company, Kalyan Jewellers.

While the full ad campaign has yet to be released, the company has used one of the shots of Ash as their Facebook cover page (pictured far right with a yellow background) and it has drawn widespread attention – with this being Ash’s first major step towards a public comeback after the birth of her daughter, Aaradhya.

The Bollywood star drew flack when, during one her first major public appearances since the birth, at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, she was still sporting a fuller figure.

Although most media thought she looked glamorous on the red carpet, some press ran articles criticising the star, comparing her with Hollywood celebrities such as Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Lopez who lost their “baby fat” quickly after their pregnancies.

Despite the criticism, Ash seemed to take it in her stride, exhibiting a comfortable confidence and later indicating to press that she was enjoying motherhood.

Well, Ash now looks set to return Bollywood. Since Aaradhya’s arrival, Ash stayed away from the camera because she wanted to focus only on her daughter.

It has been reported that for the Kalyan Jewellers ad campaign she lost a lot of weight and is looking even more beautiful than before.

A source told a leading Indian daily: “Ash did a photoshoot for a jewellery brand. Having lost oodles of weight, there is a marked glow on her face and she looks even more ravishing now.”

Shrikumar, who shot the commercial, said: “This is my first ad with Ash. What impressed me about her was a passion for detailing. There are a few interesting underwater shots, too. For me, it has been the most memorable experience shooting with her.”

The photo the company chose as the Facebook teaser has gone down well with Ash’s fans.

Zainab Chan said: “Very beautiful!! It reminds me of her modelling days. She’s getting better and better. Miss her so much! So happy to see her back to action. D”; Ash Orannaise commented: “So beautiful, welcome back diva. we miss you”; and Rehana Patel posted: “Beautiful looking great Aishwarya! Hoping to see a lot more of you on our screens, welcome back :D (sic)”

Fans have waited months for news of Ash’s Bollywood return, but Ash might face tough competition.

It is said Bollywood actresses do not share the same longevity as their male counterparts, because of their choice to marry and motherhood.

Bollywood has a long list of gorgeous actresses who stepped out from the limelight after marriage – and especially after motherhood.

Actresses like Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor couldn’t make a successful comeback. Their respective films, Aaja Nachle and Dangerous Ishq were flops at the box office. And Sonali Bendre and Raveena Tandon are nowhere to be seen on the big screens these days.

So bearing in mind the long list of unsuccessful comebacks and the calibre of current actresses – with the likes of Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone and Vidya Balan who are ruling the roost in tinseltown – Ash might have some difficulty.

Although not impossible to achieve, Ash will face tough competition from the more junior actresses who are at the peak of their success.

But if this ad campaign is any indication, Ash might just be headed for a comeback.– oneindia.in, additional reporting by Latoya Newma