Aishwarya Rai got her first hit film from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Post that; she did two more films with Sanjay, Guzaarish and Devdas. Devdas was a blockbuster, and she got the Filmfare Best Actress award that year.
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There was news that Bansali wanted to cast her as Mastani in his film Bajirao Mastani, but she refused it because of Salman Khan. He was supposed to play Bajirao initially.
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When asked about Katrina Kaif, he chose not to answer and said, "There are so many other problems affecting people in the country, why is Salman-Katrina relationship national news?"
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In an interview, Sanjay was asked about his then muse, Aishwarya Rai and what he met when he met Miss World for the first time. He said, ''There's something in her eyes. That's the most important aspect of her beauty. They are not ‘normal'. They are so powerful that even if you don't give her dialogue, they emote. Some eyes have devi shakti (power of the goddess). Like Hemaji's (Malini) eyes. Like Lataji's (Mangeshkar). Also, her eyes are beautifully coloured and fill up naturally.''
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The director added, ''When I met her for the first time inhi aankhon ka asar huwa tha (these very eyes had affected me deeply). I remember we were at the screening of Raja Hindustani. After the film she came up to me in the lobby, shook hands and said, 'Hi! I am Aishwarya Rai. I liked your work in Khamoshi'."
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Sanjay said Aiswariya is very vulnerable, God-fearing and honest, 'She's always been so warm to my mother (Leela Bhansali) and sister (editor Bela Sehgal). Because of her precision of beauty and achievements, she becomes distant for you. You put her on a pedestal. But actually she's very vulnerable, very sensitive and gets hurt very easily. She's God fearing and honest.''
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