There isn’t a soul on this planet that would disagree about how beautiful she is. But, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is not just a pretty face.

India indeed noticed her when she made the country proud by staking her claim to the Miss World title in 1994. But, the young science student, who would have pursued a career in medicine or architecture, was already making waves as a fresh face in the modeling industry after a chance photoshoot.

It would be only natural for a 20-something to be swept away by all the glitz and glamour, but she displayed immense maturity and professionalism back then, traits she’s known for even today. She wasn’t an actress that let the industry or media dictate her fate. At a time when appearances in regional cinema would have let to speculations about no success elsewhere, she chose take up roles that appealed to her.

Never a female lead that blindly signed on a big-ticket film with a leading hero, she was an actor well aware of her calibre. And she proved it to the world time again as she essayed roles that established her credentials as a versatile actor.

*This story was originally published in Outlook Business’ special issue “Outstanding Women” in October 2016.