She made her acting debut in Mani Ratnam's 1997 Tamil film Iruvar and had her first Hindi film release in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya that same year. Following appearances in several television commercials, she entered the Miss India pageant, in which she placed second.
While in college, Rai did a few modelling jobs. In the 2000s and 2010s, she was often cited in the media as 'the most beautiful woman in the world'. Rai Bachchan has received numerous accolades for her acting and was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2009 and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France in 2012. The winner of the Miss World 1994 pageant, she later established herself as one of the most popular and influential celebrities in India. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ( pronounced née Rai born 1 November 1973) is an Indian actress who is primarily known for her work in Hindi and Tamil films.
