While it is actress Priyanka Chopra who is creating waves with her Hollywood stint, it seems that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is still among the best known representation for Indian women across the world. A recent survey by YouGov.uk listed Rai Bachchan, Chopra and Deepika Padukone among the most admired women in the world.
The survey, conducted by YouGov.uk, covered over 35 countries, and was compiled from interviews of over 37,000 people from around the world. According to the website, the "results are calculated from the combination of responses to two questions – whether a respondent admires the figure at all and then whether they are the figure the respondent admires the most. Each nation's results in the global compilation are also weighted to represent the country's population size."
While Microsoft CEO Bill Gates topped the list of most admired men, it was actress Angeline Jolie who lead the list for most admired women in the world.
But the surprise for India lies in the appearance of Rai Bachchan, Chopra and Padukone finding mention on the list. While Rai Bachchan ranks 11, Chopra and Padukone are close on her heels at ranks 12 and 13.
Chopra is currently headlining one of the most popular television shows in America, Quantico, while Padukone made her international debut last year with xXx: The Return of Xander Cage (2017).
Rai Bachchan's reduced work and withdrawal from the public gaze though belies her sustaining popularity and image. The three actresses even ranked above the immensely popular 'Wonder Woman' Gal Gadot on the list.
The three are not the only Indians on the list. Prime minister Narendra Modi made it to the 9th position on Most Admired Men on the list, closely followed by Amitabh Bachchan. Bachchan, in fact, ranks above footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the rankings.