Spotted: After Cannes, Aishwarya Rai walks the London red carpet

Contemporaries beware. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looks poised to reclaim her Bollywood crown, if her spate of growing public appearances is any indication.

The recent mother, who shied away from the starry spotlight since the birth of her daughter Aaradhya last November, has been flashing her pearly whites on the red carpet since late March, with a showstopping entry at the Cannes International Film Festival last month, and now another in London. She chose to wear Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's outfit for the event.

Rai Bachchan was a special guest at the opening of the Bvlgari Hotel and Residences in London on June 12, hand picked for a starry invite-only event that saw her rub shoulders with some of the world's top celebs, including Italian actress and filmmaker, Isabella Rossellini.

Daughter of Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman and Italian director Roberto Rossellini, the Italian beauty is said to have bonded quite well with Rai Bachchan, with insiders saying that Rossellini keenly told her Bollywood newfound friend that she was eager to visit India soon.

Other noted names at the starry evening included famed director Terry Gilliam, English actress Rosamund Pike, musician Florence Welch, Korean superstar Hyo Jin Kim, among others.

Also making an entry and catching up with Rai Bachchan there was "Slumdog Millionaire" star and Frieda Pinto beau, Dev Patel.

Insiders say, the duo chatted for a while, discussing Hollywood and Bollywood ventures.

Back in the limelight

Earlier this month, news from close aides to the former Miss World filtered down, stating that the 38-year-old actress has principally agreed to now work in a film with a filmmaker known to get actresses doing different roles on big screen.

She has been reading several scripts before the baby was born, but stopped after Aaradhya's birth.

And now after reading scripts all over again, she has zeroed in on this director whom she feels will do justice to return to the spotlight.

Meanwhile, Rai Bachchan has also signed on her first official brand post her baby's birth.

The actress has signed on to be the brand ambassador for her first jewellery retail brand, Kalyan Jewellers. The jewellery chain has an international advertising film planned that will feature Rai Bachchan in her first advertising campaign photos since before giving birth.

Kalyan Jewellers' managing director said in a media statement: "Aishwarya's popularity and stardom at an international level is unparalleled.

"We are sure her personality and life which is the right balance of professional and personal success, style and substance, international acceptance and family orientation will take our brand to greater heights."

It seems all that negative press surrounding Rai Bachchan's post-birth weight flab is finally being shed.

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