Ash Rai puts her foot down; refuses to let Sonam Kapoor walk the red carpet at Cannes

[indian_rose]

Ash sees red

Aishwarya Rai puts her foot down; refuses to let Sonam Kapoor walk the red carpet at Cannes as the face of the cosmetic giant, which the two endorse

By Kunal M Shah
Posted On Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 02:12:30 AM

When it comes to Aishwarya Rai, Cannes and controversy go hand-in-hand. Earlier, it was for her atrocious fashion sense and this year it's the long distance proxy cat-fight with Sonam Kapoor.

While Ash is at Cannes year after year in her capacity as the international brand ambassador for a cosmetic giant, Sonam Kapoor was added to the list of ambassadors this year and promised by the company that she would be walking the croisette in the company of the dream team of Aishwarya, Eva Longoria and Michelle Yeoh. "Being on the same platform as Aishwarya, for me, is a big deal in itself," the younger actress had cooed excitedly. However when Ash, who considers Cannes her turf, found out that she would be sharing limelight with Sonam she was hopping mad.

According to sources, her deal with the company is clear: she is the international face while Sonam would represent the Indian face. For a while Ash believed that Sonam was misled about the red carpet turn and that she had spoken out of youthful exuberance. But when she found out otherwise, the diva put her foot down. As a result, the there was furious activity to and fro and anxious moments at the company's office in Mumbai all of Friday.

Faced with Aishwarya's determined stand the company had no option but to inform that she would no longer be walking the red carpet in Cannes during the premiere of Pedro Almodovar's latest film Broken Embraces starring Penelope Cruz, another ambassador for the brand.

Vismay Shama, India head of the brand, refused to throw light on the matter. He said, "We will release an official statement only tomorrow morning. Till then you will have to wait."

Sonam's spokesperson Monica Bhattacharya said, "The brand has promised to issue a statement tomorrow morning and we would like to allow them the privilege of doing so." But sources confirm that the young actress who starred with Abhishek Bachchan in Dilli 6, is crushed at the missed opportunity.

Faced with Ash’s determined stand the company had no option but to inform Sonam that she would no longer be walking the red carpet in Cannes

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/30/200905162009051602123054127212e00/Ash-sees-red.html

 

[raj]

IMO, Sonam is more beautiful than Ash and she dresses so much better then her too. I guess Ash doesn't want to be upstaged by her.

 

[indian_rose]

A petition/support group has been created on FB for Sonam...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/g...1cf48f8e98093ce71a&gid=81167894729&ref=search

 

[LUXXX]

That's a little extreme...

 

[carmen_kass]

This sounds like such a lod, I mean Aishwaray was in a film with Anil Kapoor, who had all those oscar and golden globe moments. Anil Kapoor is very close with Amitabh Bachchan, since the mid eighties when they used to do shows here, and Amitabh is Aish's father in law and her husband abhishek is a co-star of Sonam...Aish is too close to Sonam for this kinda crap to do down. Then again Sonam's publicist did issue a statement so....

 

[Street_a_Licious]

delicious

now that Frida Pinto was added to the lineup too, i can't wait to see how next year will turn out, with Frida being in an Oscar-winning movie and Aishwarya "just" being beautiful.

 

[FASHIONLOVA]

i saw her yesterday on a french channel and she didn t know the guy filming was a journalist, she was soo rude to him.
seems like her head doesn t fit through the door anymore

 

[carmen_kass]

delicious

now that Frida Pinto was added to the lineup too, i can't wait to see how next year will turn out, with Frida being in an Oscar-winning movie and Aishwarya "just" being beautiful.

Well not to be critical of your point but as someone who has followed Aish's career for like 8-9 years I can tell you she's much more than "just beautiful". She was Miss India, Miss World, she is classically trained in indian dance which is very difficult, and important in Bollywood and she frequently out perfoms many of her piers who are known for their dance ability, she's fluent in several langues, she's won NUMEROUS awards for her acting (which Frieda has yet to do), I think she's the first indian woman in to have a multi million dollar international cosmetcs contract, she's a cross over star with visibility and was noted Time Magazine's 100 most influential people list before it became a popularity contest. That's in fact the reason I love Aish, and I'm not even indian, because to me she's always been more than a face, she can seriously PERFORM. Sonam is two films old and is only in Bollywood because of prevelant nepotism, her father is a big star (he was in Slumdog Millionaire recently). There are more technically beautiful and symmetrical women out there like (Snejana or Valentina imo) but Aish has a screen prescence/persona that to me has been un-matched in bollywood, she can dance her *** off and where direction is good emote wonderfully. The performance aspect alone makes Aishwarya more than just beautiful to me.

 

[eternitygoddess]

Frida being in an Oscar-winning movie

So?

It wasn't her presence or her acting abilities that allowed Slumdog to win an Oscar.

 

[Street_a_Licious]

no, but what general people know about either one is "Aishwarya was Miss World" while "Frida was in a high successful and popular movie". and we're talking about people who don't follow the Bollywood scene.

fact is: i'm looking forward to the Aishwarya vs Frida catfight.

 

[indian_rose]

Another article....

Red Carpet war? Ash and Sonam

18 May 2009, 0000 hrs IST,JAYA DRONA , TNN


It’s official – L’Oreal, the brand which was to have both Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, its long-time brand ambassador, and Sonam Kapoor, its latest one, walk the Red Carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, has said that it has asked Sonam not to go.

Sonam had giggled excitedly about rubbing shoulders with Ash at the French film fest, but after her no-show, reports appeared that she was asked not to go because Ash didn’t want her to steal her thunder.

After Monika Bhattacharya, Sonam’s manager, issued a statement saying Sonam had been asked not to travel to the fest, L’Oreal issued one too, confirming that the brand has indeed advised Sonam not to go.

DT did some digging, and this is what we found. L’Oreal first invited Sonam to be a part of the L’Oreal Paris dream team and issued a press release that said, “Raising the toast to celebrate the association, Sonam Kapoor was welcomed as the youngest member to join the L’Oreal Paris dream team that includes awe-inspiring beauties such as Aishwarya Rai (Bachchan), Penelope Cruz, Naomi Lenoir, Andie MacDowell, Beyonce Knowles, Laetitia Casta, Kerry Washington, Milla Jovovich, Michelle Yeoh, Eva Longoria and Scarlett Johansson. 2009 will be a highlight year for the L’Oreal Paris brand in India as both its spokespersons – the iconic Aishwarya Rai and Sonam will represent Indian beauty and talent oversees at the Cannes Film Festival alongside other members of the dream team.”

But then came the real surprise. It was announced that Sonam’s not going at all. “Sonam’s not travelling to Cannes,” said Monika. But why? “The brand should know best. She’s been asked not to go,” she added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bollywood/Red-Carpet-war-Ash-and-Sonam/articleshow/4543054.cms

 

[LUXXX]

I would agree that because of Slumdog Frida is more well known, she got a lot of press out of that movie's success. And high profile jobs too, a Woody Allen movie is nothing to sneeze at.

Still, Frida's career is more "Hollywood" than Aishwarya's..so I don't think there will be the same competition between those two. Aish was never able to cross-over effectively.

 

[stateofbliss]

I'm really disappointed. I was looking forward to seeing Sonam on the red carpet. She was going to be dressed by Indian designers and one int'l brand (supposedly Chanel).

 

[Trista]

To me, a person who does follow Bollywood rather loosely, it is asinine that Aish would refuse to let Sonam attend. They aren't representing the same products, and for someone like Sonam who is a lot newer on the scene (only having released two films, both flops, but gaining notoriety as one of the best-dressed in Bollywood today) I can imagine that she would feel honoured to be there with Aish-which makes Aish look like even more of a diva (I haven't heard THE nicest things about her).

As for Freida? She's doing Hollywood first-she not only has the Woody Allen project (the one that Nicole Kidman dropped out of), but she's been shooting Miral (a Julian Schnabel project) in Israel as well (where the pics of her with Dev Patel came from). Aish will never be able to cross over effectively-all the films she has done were either semi-flops or worse, or she was a smaller bit role. I don't think you can compare the two either, but Freida definitely looks fresher while Aish can get by on the same old, same old. It's what works for her...

 

[indian_rose]

It's official, L'Oreal have asked Sonam not to attend.....

mid-day

 

[sethii]

What are these more interesting opportunities in Europe which L'oreal has in store for Sonam? Cannes is the most glamorous event there is! When they mean interesting they obviously mean minor events which Ash refuses to attend. She is a horror In every interview I've seen her do with American TV, she creates a really awkward tension. Very passive aggressive.

 

[--Vespertine--]

It's not the first time I read Aishwarya behaves like a diva

but she's so goergeous that I don't understand how she could be outshined by anyone (in looks)

 

[retailqueen]

This is really stupid and not the first time i've heard about Aish's poor behavior. Rumors said that she is just a pretty face but a nasty person.
I guess that's what happens when one lets things go to their heads.

 

[stateofbliss]

What are these more interesting opportunities in Europe which L'oreal has in store for Sonam? Cannes is the most glamorous event there is! When they mean interesting they obviously mean minor events which Ash refuses to attend. She is a horror In every interview I've seen her do with American TV, she creates a really awkward tension. Very passive aggressive.

I was wondering the same. Both she and the Indian designers that were going to dress her must be so bummed. I feel bad for her. I think it's pretty unprofessional of L'Oreal to cancel her appearance at the last minute like this. I was looking forward to seeing her the most @ Cannes this year

 

[sethii]

Sonam on red carpet with Ash

Guess who’s walking the red carpet at Cannes alongside the likes of Hollywood beauties Penelope Cruz and Eva Longoria, and Bollywood’s own Aishwarya Bachchan, as the face of a major international cosmetic giant?

The tall and lissome star of Saawariya and Delhi 6 — Sonam Kapoor, that’s who! She’s excited, naturally, as any young actress would be on her first trip to France and that too for an assignment at the prestigious international film festival with such big names. “Being on the same platform as Aishwarya, for me, is a big deal in itself,” gushed Sonam. “I have always adored her but met her only once, during the Delhi 6 premiere.”

Dad Anil Kapoor, who’s been riding a high ever since Slumdog Millionaire swept the Oscars and Golden Globes, will join Sonam at Cannes. “Dad will be my date on the two nights that I’ll be there,” the daughter giggled, “I will walk with him, it will be so beautiful.”

She’s unperturbed by the fact that being on the red carpet will mean coming under the glare of the paparazzi and fashionistas at the French cinema capital. “I’m aware,” she said, “and I’m confident I’ll carry off the Indian outfits I’m taking there by Anamika, Manish and Gaurav with ease. I’ll also be dressed by an international designer for one event.”

She’s looking forward to catching up on some good world cinema, during her short trip to Cannes. And to France, itself. “I’ve never been to Paris or any other part of France, except through books. I used to transport myself to these lovely destinations through my reading. It’s a dream come true for me,” said the actress who was just a gawky teenager working as an assistant to Sanjay Leela Bhansali when Ash walked the red carpet at the Cannes for the first time a few years ago.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com via indian rose