The year was 2005, when Aishwarya Rai met Oprah Winfrey on her show, ‘Women Across the Globe’. The woman often hailed as the “most beautiful in the world” had yet another thoughtful gift for Oprah-a gorgeous pink saree.
Not only did the Devdas actress unveil it, but also draped it divinely around Oprah, making her feel “sensual” in the elegant dress.
In that episode, Aishwarya seized the opportunity to tell Indian culture and the warmth of its hospitality. She explained her heritage by saying, “I come from the land of the The Kama Sutra. We obviously have a normal, healthy approach to relationships. Kissing is a more private expression of emotions. Art imitates life, and that reflects in our cinema as well.” When Oprah complimented Aishwarya’s beauty, she thoughtfully responded saying, “To me, beautiful is as beautiful does. I think that speaks volumes. It isn’t just about appearance; it’s about actions and intentions.” Her words went deep into the minds, focusing on character over looks.
This was not the first time Aishwarya visited Oprah’s show. After her marriage to Abhishek Bachchan in 2007, she did return to the show in 2009 with him for a joint interview. Abhishek shared a very beautiful story about their relationship when he said, “I was shooting for a movie in New York, and I used to stand on the balcony of my hotel room wishing that one day I would be there with her married.” Later, he says how he took Aishwarya to the same balcony after the ‘Guru’ film release premiere and proposed.
In 2012, Aishwarya, Abhishek, and Amitabh Bachchan were honored to host Oprah when she came to India. On this visit, Oprah attended a lavish party. At the party, Oprah chatted with the faces of Bollywoodsuch as Shah Rukh Khan. Again, Aishwarya wore a bright red saree that further proved she was a style icon. This flashback, though bringing out the charisma of Aishwarya, also highlights the contribution she made in making those related topics an informed cornerstone of cultural identity on the global level.