40 Aishwarya Rai

Though not entirely a household name in North America, Aishwarya Rai is easily the most well-known actress to ever emerge from India’s Bollywood scene. A veteran of almost 50 films since her 1997 debut, Aishwarya has won heaps of accolades and awards for her work, including trophies from such authorities as Screen Weekly, Filmfare, and Zee Cine. Aishwarya’s obvious loveliness has also been the subject of international focus: She is the former 1994 Miss World title holder, and 60 Minutes claimed that she has “The Most Beautiful Face in the World.”

Nobody could ever accuse Aishwarya of resting on her laurels, and 2006 was as busy a year for the actress as her fans have come to expect. After appearing in a pair of well-regarded Bollywood films -- Umrao Jaan and Dhoom 2 -- Aishwarya took on a role opposite Miranda Richardson and Lost’s Naveen Andrews in the British drama Provoked: A True Story. Aishwarya’s seemingly permanent place on this list is a testament to her enduring popularity with fans and critics alike, and it seems obvious that her appeal is only destined to grow in the years to come (particularly in North America).

Though it scarcely seems possible, 2007 just might be Aishwarya’s busiest year to date. The actress is currently scheduled to appear in a whopping seven films over the course of the year. Aishwarya kicked off 2007 with the worldwide release of Guru, a big-budget Bollywood epic that received a splashy premiere in Toronto. And given that Aishwarya’s just announced her engagement to fellow Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, there’s little doubt that an extremely extravagant wedding ceremony is in her immediate future.

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40 Aishwarya Rai