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When Akshaye Khanna called Aishwarya Rai Bachchan ‘very beautiful’: ‘Not just from the outside…’

Akshaye Khanna worked with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the 1999 films Aa Ab Laut Chale and Taal. He also had a cameo in her 2000 film Humara Dil Aapke Paas Hai.

When Akshaye Khanna staring at Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. (File Photo/Ruhani Kaur)

Akshaye Khanna and Aishwarya Rai collaborated on three films, Aa Ab Laut Chale, Taal and Humara Dil Aapke Paas Hai. While in the first two films, the actors played each other’s romantic interest, in the third film, Akshaye had a cameo. Their film Taal, directed by Subhash Ghai, was a blockbuster hit at the box office. Taal was among Aishwarya’s first movies after she marked her debut in 1997. While Aishwarya went on to become a superstar in her later years, her co-star Akshaye Khanna had already predicted that she would become a “very fine actress”.

In an interview with Lehren Retro, Akshaye had predicted about 25 years ago, just before the release of their film Taal that Aishwarya will go on to become a “very fine actress”. He said, “I have worked with Aishwarya before in Aa Ab Laut Chale. Taal is my second one with her. She is very beautiful.”

The actor added, “Not just from the outside but also from the inside. She is always smiling and laughing. Always cheerful. I guess she is going to be a very fine actress. She has performed amazingly in Taal.”

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This is not the only time Akshaye Khanna praised Aishwarya Rai. In 2017, around the promotions of his film Ittefaq, Akshaye praised the actress when Karan Johar asked him “Who do you think is the sexiest girl in business right now?” He said, “Ash (Aishwarya Rai)”. The actor added, “I can’t take my eyes off her every time I meet her. It’s embarrassing for men. She must be used to it (people staring at her). But I am not used to not being able to take my eyes off somebody. You just keep staring at her like a lunatic.”

Post Taal, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan went on to star in films like Mohabbatein, Devdas, Umrao Jaan, Dhoom 2, Guru, Jodha Akbar, all of which became iconic films over the years and gained her immense praise from critics and the audience.

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