With only a week left for the release of controversy’s favourite child, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, here’s taking a look at powerhouse performer Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s most memorable screen performances that catapulted her to stardom.

Devdas

Who can forget Dola Re Dola, a song featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit Nene, two of the most beautiful women who graced the Indian silver screen together and wowed the audiences with their dance moves? Aishwarya Rai Bachchan held her own, despite the presence of senior stars (Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit) in the film and also received the Filmfare Award for the Best Actress for her portrayal of Paro.

Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam 

A newly-wed Ajay Devgn discovers his wife is in love with someone else and decides to unite the two lovers. The two lovers were played by Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and the film was the beginning of their much-discussed and tumultuous real-life romance. This film definitely catapulted her to stardom.

Raincoat

Ajay Devgn and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan reunited for this poignant film about two lovers who lost touch and encountered each other, one fine day, only to discover the melancholic truth about their current lives. An adaptation of The Gift of the Magi, this film was definitely one where we discovered different layers to Aishwarya Rai’s acting skills.

Guru

The rags-to-riches story based on the Ambani clan, Guru had Aishwarya Rai Bachchan playing Dhirubhai Ambani’s wife in the film. This film was special because it was also the beginning of a romance between Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan who eventually got married.

Jodhaa Akbar

Aishawarya played the role of the fiery Rajput princess in the film who is married off to Mughal king Akbar, for political reasons. This was another blockbuster hit for Mrs. Bachchan who seems to have had found immense success in period dramas and adaptations.