Her interest in modeling began at an early age. While still in ninth grade, she did a professional photo shoot for Camlin pencils. Later, she attended Jai Hind College for one year before enrolling at DG Ruparel College in Matunga, where she excelled academically. During this time, an English professor with a passion for photography took some portraits of her, which were published in a fashion magazine. These photos garnered the attention of advertising agencies, leading to a series of television commercials and kickstarting her early modeling career.

Modeling Success and Miss World

Aishwarya's striking beauty and charisma quickly made her a prominent figure in the modeling world. In 1991, she won the Ford Supermodel Contest, which led to an appearance in the American edition of Vogue. Her widespread popularity grew further when she became the first runner-up in the Femina Miss India pageant in 1994. That same year, she represented India at the Miss World competition held in South Africa and won the title, further cementing her global appeal.

Entry into Bollywood and Acting Career

Following her pageant success, Aishwarya transitioned from modeling to acting. In 1997, she made her film debut in the Tamil-language political drama Iruvar, directed by Mani Ratnam. The film gained critical acclaim and spotlighted her acting potential. That same year, she debuted in Bollywood with Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, which was not commercially successful, and critics were initially skeptical about her acting skills.

However, her breakthrough came in 1998 with the film Jeans, directed by S. Shankar. Her performance earned more favorable reviews and redefined her image as more than a beauty queen. Over the years, Aishwarya appeared in a variety of films across genres and languages. While some projects were met with mixed reception, her perseverance, professionalism, and continuous growth as an actress drew widespread acclaim.