Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has won the ‘Global Indian of the Year’ award. Aishwarya was honoured at NRI of the Year award function held in Mumbai. The actress, 42, dedicated the award to her daughter Aaradhya.

• The “Dhoom 2” actress will be seen next in “Sarabjit” alongside Randeep Hooda and Richa Chadha
• Besides Aishwarya, noted tennis player Sania Mirza was also honoured at the NRI of the Year Award 2016.
• Altogether 17 individuals were given the awards under different categories like — entrepreneur, professional, academics, arts & culture, philanthropy, special jury award, global icon of the year and India’s global icon award.
• The NRI of the Year Award recognises outstanding achievements of the Indian diaspora globally.

Did You Know?

• Aishwarya Rai made her acting debut with the 1997 Tamil film Iruvar and had her first Hindi film release in Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya that same year.
• Her first commercial success was the Tamil romantic drama Jeans (1998), following which she achieved wider success and two Best Actress awards at Filmfare for her performances in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and Devdas (2002).
• Her off-screen roles include duties as a brand ambassador for several charity organisations and campaigns.
• She is a Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS).
• In 2003, she was the first Indian actress to be a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival.