For lovers of Hindi cinema, there's much to look forward to over the next 12 months. New roles, of course, a lot of experimentation, big names that have a lot to prove. All in all, it should be a blast.
To kick things off, the first thing to look forward to is Aishwarya Rai in Umrao Jaan.
In recreating an era and aura that Rekha already has, Aishwarya is taking a great risk. Comparisons, as they say, are inevitable. "But Ash's Umrao is diametrically different from Rekha's. Ash is doing it in her own way. And it's certainly unique and outstanding," says movie mogul J P Dutta, all set to prove himself a ladies' director.
Before Umrao, Ash bathed herself in glamorous glory, playing Paro in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas. In Umrao, the scent of this woman is amazing. All those who think she's had her best innings are going to sit up and watch. Says co-star Divya Dutta, "The minute Ash walks in, we are transported into another time zone." Ash laughs, "You know I've been told so many times that I belong to a different era. Maybe Umrao is my chance to really prove it."
Also Read: The all new Umrao Jaan