Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai surely knows how to surprise her fans. After a hiatus of two years (except the Kajra Re item number in Bunty and Babli), the doe-eyed beauty is back with a bang.

Come November and the talented actress would be seen in two strikingly different avtaars in Dhoom II and Umrao Jaan. Interestingly, Aishwarya’s look in Umrao Jaan is completely opposite of her suave and slick avtaar in Dhoom II.

If she’s looking like a million bucks in the exquisitely designed costumes as Umrao, she’s at her sizzling best in the skimpily clad outfits in Dhoom II. Aishwarya Rai in a still from Umrao Jaan.

In J P Dutta’s Umrao Jaan Ada, Ash plays Amiran, a character that was put to life by the gorgeous Rekha way back in the 80s.

Set against the royal backdrop of the 19th Century Lucknow, Umrao Jaan is Aishwarya’s first major release after Bunty aur Babli (in which she had swept the nation with her jhatkas in the Kajra Re song).

Besides that, Aishwarya desperately needs a major hit to be back at the numero uno position. Undoubtedly, Ash has all her hopes pinned at Umrao Jaan. And with the first posters just coming up, Aishwarya’s prayers might be answered. Dressed elegantly as an ambitious courtesan, Aishwarya looks stunningly beautiful in Umrao Jaan.

Contrary to this, in Dhoom II Aishwarya plays Hrithik’s moll, a spunky and hip girl. Recently, Ash was in the news because of the amount of weight that she had lost to fit into the skimpy outfits that she was asked to flaunt in the movie. And if rumour mills are to be believed Aishwarya has left no stone unturned to look her dazzling best in the film.

Another interesting thing is that both the films have Abhishekh Bachchan. If he’s romancing her in Umrao Jaan, he’d be seen chasing her in Dhoom II, in which Aishwarya plays a grey character.

The two will be together again for Mani Ratnam’s Guru (slated to release in December) and Sarkar II. But will they create the Kajra Re magic again? We’ll probably have to wait and watch.