On Monday another schedule of Mani Ratnam’s Raavan started in the distant hilly area of Kerala, just when Amar Singh, whom Aishwarya was attending to, had recovered. Illnesses in the family and at her work place have put Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s choc-a-bloc schedule under further pressure.First it was her father and father-in-law who underwent health problems. Now it’s the Bachchans’ family friend Amar Singh whose kidney transplant in Singapore has further challenged Aishwarya’s schedules. In fact, scheduling setbacks caused by unforeseen health problems seem to be hounding Aishwarya. Two of her films, both starring her husband Abhishek, have fallen back due to illnesses. Mani Ratnam’s Raavan has been pushed behind because of the director’s heart scare.

Consequently a major chunk of Aishwarya’s dates went to waste, though it did give her a chance to go on a holiday for her marriage anniversary in April… a holiday she could ‘ill’ afford.Then the proposed thriller Crooked which takes her across the world for shooting with her husband, got postponed from mid-2009 to the end of the year as the director Abhinay Deo’s wife fell ill. Aishwarya willingly reshuffled the dates.Says a close friend, “She can never be ruthlessly professional. If a project is in distress she will accommodate and reschedule it, no matter what it takes. There’re three delayed projects, none delayed because of Aishwarya. But nonetheless requiring her immediate attention. She has already made space for the next schedules of Raavan and Shankar’s Tamil Robot with Rajnikanth which has also over-shot considerably and requires her additional dates.

Aishwarya’s scheduling woes don’t end there. Raavan is a bi-lingual in Tamil and Hindi which means it takes double her time.Says the friend, “Abhishek is in only one version of Raavan. Aishwarya is in both Tamil and Hindi. And she’s also speaking her own Tamil lines.Hence when the matter of the entire Bachchan family going for Amar Singh’s surgery came up, it was gently suggested that Aishwarya minimize or cancel her participation. Says the source, “But for Aishwarya a family commitment is paramount. Work can wait. This is professionally her most crowded and difficult period ever.

But she is determined to finish all her projects on time.At least no one should blame me if any of my films are delayed,” Aishwarya laughed before leaving for Singapore. She now travels from Singapore to Chalakudy in Kerala for the next schedule of Mani’s Raavan with no space to meet her loved ones in Mumbai.

Renowned cosmetics and beauty supply company L’Oreal on the occasion of being into the business for 100 years and commemorating the occasion launched its ‘Beautiful Beginnings” campaign with Aide et Action in Khar Danda Village, India. The campaign is undergoing in about 60 countries.

This campaign is for the underprivileged girls who have been dropped out due to financial constraints and be provided with four months training for coloring and styling hair, administering manicures and pedicures, threading, waxing and facials. Girls after training would be promoted to open their salons hence will give them chance to secure their future. Indian Ambassador for L’Oreal Aishwariya Rai inaugurated the program in India. She also mixed up with the girls selected for the training on this occasion.

Bollywood’s popular couple - Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai - has been approached by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to create awareness about the plight of lovebirds through a special photo shoot.

“As India’s most famous ‘lovebirds’, we believe that you are uniquely suited to help bring attention to the plight of these smart and sensitive birds. We would like to arrange a photo shoot with you for a ‘Love Birds in Cages’ ad to raise awareness about the issue,” Anuradha Sawhney, PETA India chief functionary, wrote in a letter to Abhishek and Aishwarya .

Lovebirds are small members of the parrot family and the most commonly sold birds for domestic as well as display caging, which is a punishable offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species restricts trading in foreign birds.

However, a black market involving 300 of the India’s estimated 1,200 species of birds thrives openly in many places.

There was a controversy at IIFA 2009 in Macau, Ashutosh Gowariker director of Jodhaa Akbar, publicly said that Aishwarya deserved the best actress award for Jodhaa Akbar, not Priyanka Chopra for Fashion.The whole Bollywood was shocked

by Ashutosh’s comments, he said the same about Rock On at Star Screen Awards 2009 earliera this year and now his outburst against his next leading lady Priyanka Chopra.However Jaya Bachchan is supporting Ashutosh’s outburst, clearly stating that Ash deserved the award.Jaya Bachchan’s name was mentioned by Ashutosh during the outburst, to which Jaya replies, First of all it is being presumed that

Ashutosh unnecessarily mentioned my name regarding Aishwarya’s omission from the awards. The fact is, I suggested he bring up the question on stage at IIFA. We were discussing why Aishwarya has not been given any award for Jodhaa-Akbar and I suggested Ashutosh bring up the matter. So when he mentioned my name he wasn’t doing anything wrong.”“The entire principalcast & crew of Jodhaa-Akbar have been rightly nominated for the popular awards and have won also. I find it very strange that Aishwarya who lived her part and looked every inch the royal Rajasthani queen in her body language and overall performance was ignored.”For all I know she must be really good in Fashion. I haven’t seen it. But I’ve seen Priyanka’s work in Dostana and liked it. She’s undoubtedly a good actress. I don’t have any objection to her winning the award at IIFA. But I wonder why Aishwarya’s fine performance was ignored. I think she and the Jodhaa-Akbar cinematographer Kiran Deohans richly deserved recognition for their work.”

So folks do you think Aishwayra should have walked away with all the trophiesthis year instead of Priyanka Chopra.

Aishwarya Rai lights up Royal Ascot with her radiant presence at Ascot in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the uncontested Bollywood star and the brand’s Ambassador of Elegance for the past 10 years, lit up the racecourse with her radiant presence.

In between interviews and photo sessions, the film star managed to find time to admire the creations modeled in the Royal Ascot Fashion Show and to watch some racing in the afternoon. Check Aishwarya Rai latest photo shoot for Longines Royal Ascot Race Event below.