Aishwarya Presence zoomed Business in Agarpara

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan may or may not have made Ratnam’s day, but she sure made Rajinder’s.

The balding man wheeled his MAK ice-cream van into Elias Road on Tuesday afternoon and parked it close to the closed blue gates of Saheb Kuthi where the Bachchan bahu began her Calcutta leg of the Raavan shoot for Mani Ratnam’s latest.

“I heard about Aishwarya shooting here and knew there would be a crowd outside. And everyone likes an ice cream,” smiled Rajinder, who had sold ice lollies worth Rs 60 within an hour of setting up shop.

The Ash effect turned sleepy Elias Road in Agarpara into a bustling food-and-footfall street on Tuesday. Some children in school uniform waited patiently for their “favourite heroine” to emerge from the bungalow by the Hooghly. A group of adventurous youngsters clambered up walls and trees to catch a glimpse of the “biggest star to visit Agarpara”. Peeping Toms — daughters and mothers, middle-aged men and little boys — were thwarted by a pink sheet blocking the slits in the blue gate.

Where the fans would love to be: the first-floor window of Saheb Kuthi. (Aranya Sen)
What if the gates had parted? The fans could have spied their favourite as Sita 2009 — first in jeans and a green top in the living room, and then in a ghagra on the first floor. If the morning saw the star on a treadmill, the afternoon glimpsed her in a dance sequence in a naachghar complete with the sitar, tabla and other musical instruments.

The stars on this side of the great divide were Rajinder the ice-cream man, Gurfan the grapeseller and Surinder the phuchkawallah.

For it was left to these three vendors to lift the spirits of the foiled fans — from nine-year-old Koushik who cried “I’ve seen her on TV, now I want to see her for real” to homemaker Sumitra Biswas who made it clear she was there for “Aishwarya, not Abhishek”.

Those who stuck it out till the end of the day had something to cheer about — at 6pm, as Ash breezed out in an Innova, hair tied back, she smiled and she waved.
Tags:Aishwarya rai bachchan,aish,kolkatta,ravana,mani ratnam,abhishek bachchan,agarpara,Aishwarya Rai Bachchan launches Longines 'Admiral' collection photos, wallpapers, gallery, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan launches Longines 'Admiral' collection pics, shots, movies, downloads, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan launches Longines 'Admiral' collection encaptured, aish photos,

Aishwarya Bachchan at the launch of Ambani Hospital

Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai at the launch of Ambani Hospital in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Andheri on 26th Jan 2009.

Aishwarya at Bachchanliya launch

aishwarya rai
Book On The Bachchan Legend
A book, among many others has been released in the honor of the Bollywood 'Shehensha', Amitabh Bachchan.

The book titled 'Bachchanalia: The Films and Memorabilia of Amitabh Bachchan" is also co-authored by Bhawana Somaaya, the noted celebrity writer. "I am grateful and very humbled by this release and I don't deserve it but I am thankful to the publishers and to Bhawana Somaaya for bringing this book out," said Amitabh Bachchan.


I don't deserve it but I am thankful to the publishers


To grace the honor was present the Bachchan daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. "As a family we are very proud and humbled at the same time by this wonderful gesture of the release of the book and we are looking forward to going through it (the book)," said Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Making the occasion all the more star-studded was present Mr.Perfectionist, Aamir Khan as the guest of honor. The book features the eventful journey of the legendary Amitabh Bachcahan through the years in Bollywood. Also present are some of the most exclusive posters and publicity materials, featured for the first time for the public view. AGENCIES