Birthday special: here is all that you need to know about Aishwarya Rai

Age is definitely just a number for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who turns 44 today, as she continues to reign the hearts of fans all across the world. 

From being considered the most beautiful actress to having a tulip named after her, Aishwarya is clearly every bit of the diva.

Here are some of the lesser-known facts about the charismatic actress.

Many Firsts

Aishwarya Rai is the first Bollywood actress to get a wax statue hosted at Madame Tussauds.

She is also the first Indian actress to be invited as a guest to the coveted 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'.

Awards & Accolades

The talented actress has not only worked on big-ticket Bollywood projects, she has also starred in select international films, winning appreciation from fans and the film industry in her stride.

Among the innumerable honours both from India and internationally is the Padma Shri in 2009 by the Government of India and the 'Ordre des Arts et des Letters' by the Government of France in 2012.

Special Appearance

Aishwarya is all set to dazzle the upcoming 70th Cannes red carpet.

She debuted at the prestigious film festival in 2002, and has since then graced the Cannes red carpet for the last 15 years.

She is the first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival.

The actress has stunned the audiences time and again with her impeccable sartorial choices, with her appearance being one of the most awaited ones each year.

One-of-a-Kind

Mattel Inc., manufacturer of the famous Barbie doll, in 2009 announced that Aishwarya would be the Indian face of the world-famous doll.

The doll was based on her looks from the films 'Jodha Akbar' and 'Devdas'.

She is also the first Indian star to be mentioned in the Rolling Stone magazine.

Her fan base goes beyond age, gender and nationality.