Aishwarya Rai

A unique photo exhibition celebrating 75 years of Indian cinema has been launched by Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai at the famous Indian restaurant “Sitaaray” here.

The photographs, entitled “Faces”, which are part of a tribute to the stars of the Indian cinema by legendary photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha, would be on display at Drury Lane’s Bollywood-inspired restaurant till April 21.

The exhibition is a showcase of imagery from Rajadhyaksha, who has captured the greatest icons of Indian cinema from Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to beauties Shilpa Shetty and Aishwarya Rai.

Aishwarya, who was also in town to promote her new film, offered her support for the exhibition. The two have worked together several times over the years for her films and various advertising campaigns during her modelling career.

His coffee table book contains 45 film personalities beginning with Durga Khote, one of India’s first women of cinema and ending with Aishwarya.

Gautam’s photography career started over 20 years ago when his friend and noted actress Shabana Azmi asked him to shoot her for a film magazine after which he gave up a career in advertising.

Shabana and her husband Javed Akhtar, a leading lyricist had formally opened Sitaaray and launched its first cultural event ‘Kaifi Aur Mai’- a play based on the life of Kaifi Azmi.

Sitaaray, a restaurant that celebrates India’s two greatest exports-its cuisine and cinema-kickstarted its festivities to commemorate 75 years of Indian cinema with a dinner for IIFA Ambassador and megastar Amitabh Bachchan.