Frequently termed “the most beautiful woman in the world” in media, Rai has been worshipped throughout her career for her green eyes, incandescent skin and her characteristic nazakat. However, the 44-year-old actress is also a powerhouse performer. Below, we catalogue some of her most underrated films:

Raincoat

In this 2004 film directed by the late great Rituparno Ghosh, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan plays the role of Neeru, a woman who reconnects with her former fiance. The movie is beautiful and hits all the right notes, but that’s only to be expected from a Rituparno Ghosh film.

Chokher Bali

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Another film directed by Ghosh, Rai Bachchan played the role of Binodini. The film was enormously successful at the box office when it released and was also met with positive reviews, going on to win a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali.

Guru

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Guru was a massive hit when it hit the screens and critics were all praise for Abhishek Bachchan. However, Rai-Bachchan’s role as Sujata was the real star with her elegance and ability to handle even the toughest of emotional scenes with aplomb.

Raavan

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

While the film plays around with the concept of what is truly good and what is truly evil, it failed to impress many critics who found it a tad boring and lacking in depth.

Provoked

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

This is one of the finest and bravest films that she has acted in. While the film’s storyline was praised for dealing with such a poignant matter, many found Rai-Bachchan’s performance lacklustre.