Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai may soon join the ranks of Hollywood beauties like Beyonce Knowles, Elizabeth Taylor and Diana Ross, by becoming the first Indian face of the legendary doll 'Barbie'.
The representatives for the actress are reportedly in negotiations with the toy giant, Mattel, as it plans to transform the iconic doll into a Bollywood star and sell it throughout India.
The former Miss World will have a Barbie modelled after her, titled "Bollywood Barbie", reported The Telegraph.
The company, which recently celebrated Barbie's 50th birthday, is expecting to cash in on the popularity of the star to increase its sales in India.
Aishwarya is one of the most recognised faces around the world thanks to starring roles in Hollywood films like "Pink Panther 2", "Mistress of Spices" and "Bride and Prejudice" and lucrative endorsements deals like "Loreal" and "Longines".
The 35-year-old actress, who married into Bollywood's first family of the Bachchans, will have the doll modelled on her with her striking green eyes, and the doll will wear outfits created by India's top designers.
The Barbie deal signals to Aishwarya's rising global popularity. She is among the four Indian film stars to have their waxwork image displayed at Madame Tussaud's, the others being her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and yesteryear's screen diva Helen.
After doing well in Bollywood, actress Aishwarya Rai has also managed to grab international attention with her international films like Mistress of Spices (2005), The Last Legion (2007) and the recently released Pink Panther 2.
Forbes magazine rated the actress as most bankable and ranked her ahead of veteran Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.
Normally in the Indian film fraternity, the career graph shows a decline after tying knot, but the former Miss World proved it wrong.
Her stature in the film world bloomed to a great extent after her marriage with actor Abhishek Bachchan.
Following her contribution to field of cinema, she was honored with the prestigious Padmashree award in January this year.
MUMBAI: The Pink Panther 2, the sequel to the 2006 film Pink Panther, has raked in Rs 10 million during its opening weekend at the India box office.
Distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) Films India, the film was released in 40 screens (35 prints and 5 digital) across India in English.
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) Films India managing director Kercy Daruwala said, “Though we released the film with only 40 prints in the first phase and that too around examination time, I guess it was the curiosity factor and great fan following of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan which further helped us garner an impressive opening collection of Rs.10 million plus across India.”
The sequel, directed by Harald Zwart, stars Steve Martin as he reprises the role of intrepid-if-bumbling French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. Martin is joined by co-stars Jean Reno (as Ponton, his partner) and Emily Mortimer (as Nicole, the object of his awkward affections). The cast also includes Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
aishwarya rai at the premiere of pink partner 2.
aishwarya rai in hollywood movie pink partner 2.
abhishek bachan and aishwarya rai bachan at premiere of hollywood movie pink partner 2.
