Aishwarya Rai Bachchan comes to Sydney… and we got to meet her!

Hello I Am Starstruck-ers! It’s Leeshie here.

I had the biggest girl crush on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan back in 2005 following the release of Bride & Prejudice. So much so, that I watched the Gurinder Chadha film in the cinemas TWICE, and then made my entire art class watch my favourite video clips at school.

Over the weekend my 13-year-old self from 2005 would have been very proud, because I had the opportunity to interview Aishwarya in the flesh, not once, but twice!

The 42-year-old Bollywood beauty was in town to promote the launch of the new Longines DolceVita watch model, as well as appear at the Longines Elizabeth Stakes Day Championships 2 at Royal Randwick to present the Prize for Elegance.

I caught up with Aishwarya on both occasions, and got to write all about it for Daily Mail Australia and MailOnline India.

Take a look at the articles and photos below! x

Longines DolceVita Asia Pacific Launch in Sydney

Longines Elizabeth Stakes Day Championships Day 2

Image Source: Desi Australia

Originally published at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3531236/Aishwarya-Rai-Bachchan-reveals-secret-timeless-elegance-opens-motherhood-beauty-races.html

EXCLUSIVE: ‘It’s about being comfortable in your own skin’: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan reveals the secret to her timeless elegance and opens up about motherhood and beauty

By Alicia Vrajlal

Having once been dubbed as the ‘most beautiful woman in the world’, it’s no surprise Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was presenting the Prize for Elegance at The Championships Day 2 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day on Saturday.

And after having been associated with the brand for 17 years, the Indian actress says her view on beauty and elegance has remained the same, despite the various life stages she’s been through.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia from Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse, she opened up on the perceived connections between beauty and motherhood, with the 42-year-old Bollywood star the proud mother of four-year-old daughter Aaradhya whom she shares with husband Abhishek Bachchan.

‘You can bring the two together,’ she began when asked about motherhood and beauty, before continuing, ‘yet they’re individual aspects in the sense that beauty goes in tandem with motherhood in its entirety of definition’.

She added: ‘And yet motherhood is such a singular experience that I wouldn’t intertwine it with beauty in the context of being a brand ambassador’.

Longines is famous for its motto ‘elegance is an attitude’, and as a loyal celebrity ambassador Aishwarya certainly stands by it.

According to the actress, she feels the most elegant when she is at peace with herself.

‘It’s not about an opportunity, it’s not about an event and it’s not about the clothes,’ she explained to Daily Mail Australia.

‘It’s just about being comfortable in your skin.’

On Saturday the award-winning actress appeared at Royal Randwick Racecourse to present the Longines Prize for Elegance as a part of the fashions on the field proceedings.

‘The races are completely new to me,’ the actress admitted to Daily Mail Australia.

‘I don’t bet, I don’t participate in all of that but I like the horse,’ she added.

‘It’s such a beautiful animal.. so powerful, so elegant.’

She certainly exuded effortless elegance herself on the day, stepping out in a striking Toni Maticevski ensemble.

Her top was splashed with bold yellow and navy stripes, while the skirt of the outfit was made of a soft silver fabric, complete with ruffled layers.

As per usual, some majestic millinery completes a fashionista’s trackside attire.

And on this occasion Aishwarya sported a black and white headpiece designed by Australian milliner Nerida Winter.

Commenting on local designer Toni Maticevski’s work, she told Daily Mail Australia: ‘I discovered him last year and I’m glad because I think his work is beautiful… he’s got his own signature in it’.

‘There’s a kind of structure and yet it’s lyrical, it’s fluid and I think it’s great he kind of creates this movement of fabric,’ she continued.

Since being crowned Miss World back in 1994, Aishwarya has forged a successful modelling and subsequent acting career in Bollywood, making her one of the most sought-after actresses in the Indian film industry.

In 2003 she became the first Indian actress to be a Cannes Film Festival jury member, following the success of her flick Devdas which was screened at the film festival in 2002.

Proving her versatility as an actress, she leant her onscreen talents to Hollywood in 2004.

The beauty starred opposite Grey’s Anatomy star Martin Henderson in the film Bride And Prejudice, an adapted version of Jane Austin’s classic Pride And Prejudice, but with a spicy twist.

She also went on to star in The Pink Panther 2 and Provoked.

Originally published at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-3532331/Aishwarya-Rai-Bachchan-opens-filming-Sarabjit-ahead-release-month.html

EXCLUSIVE: ‘It was a wonderful and intense piece of cinema to work on’: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan opens up about filming Sarbjit ahead of its release next month

By Alicia Vrajlal

She’s never failed to exude elegance since winning Miss World back in 1994, and has even been dubbed ‘the most beautiful woman in the world’.

But for her latest movie role, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be taking a step away from the glitz and glamour, playing the brave sister of real-life figure Sarabjit Singh in upcoming flick Sarbjit.

Speaking to MailOnline, the 42-year-old Longines Ambassador of Elegance said the flick to be released next month ‘was a wonderful and intense piece of cinema to work on’.

‘I’m playing the role of Dalbir Kaur, the sister who fought for 23 years for the release of her brother, who by mistake crossed the border from India to Pakistan and was taken in as a prisoner,’ Aishwarya explained to MailOnline.

Revealing why she chose to be a part of the film directed by Omung Kumar, the Bollywood beauty said: ‘I thought this was a unique subject and story where it is a real story’.

‘It’s focusing on the struggle of his sister, a sibling virtually dedicating her whole life or such a large aspect of her life to looking after her brother’s wife and children, and really leaving no stone unturned to try and have her brother released and brought back to India,’ she continued, reflecting on her multidimensional character.

Starring alongside Aishwarya in the flick is Randeep Hooda, the 39-year-old playing her brother Sarabjit.

The film is set to be released in May, and the award-winning actress hopes her fans enjoy the cinematic experience as much as she treasured working on it.

‘It’s an incredible story, it’s an incredible spirit and I definitely as an artist thought it was a wonderful and intense piece of cinema to work on,’ she told MailOnline, also giving a nod to the ‘wonderful team’ behind it.

This year is set to be eventful as far as Aishwarya’s film releases go, with the mother-of-one’s other film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil to be released around October.

‘There’s one with Karan Johar; Ae Dil He Mushkil,’ Aishwarya proudly told MailOnline, discussing upcoming projects which fans can look forward to.

‘It’s with Ranbir (Kapoor) and Anushka (Sharma) and I play a chapter in that story,’ she explained.

The wife of Abhishek Bachchan plays Saba Taliyar Khan in the romantic comedy film.

‘Karan’s a friend, so when he asked me it was tough to say no,’ she admitted, before adding, ‘it was a fun team to work with’.

While she’s no doubt a goddess on the big screen, Aishwarya has also been lending her talents to other projects in recent times.

In 2003 she became the first Indian actress to be a Cannes Film Festival jury member, following the success of her flick Devdas which was screened at the film festival in 2002.

Proving her versatility as an actress, she leant her onscreen talents to Hollywood in 2004.

She has also been a brand ambassador for luxury watch company Longines, and was in Sydney over the weekend to present the Longines Prize for Elegance at Royal Randwick Racecourse.