Bollywood is banking heavily on Aishwarya Rai to help it end 2006 - its most successful year ever - on a high. Revenue of over Rs.7 billion is expected from six big-budget movies being released in the next five weeks, three of which star Aishwarya.

Over Rs.1.5 billion have been invested in Aishwarya's "Umrao Jaan", "Dhoom-2" and "Guru". The other three are "Vivah", "Baabul" and "Kabul Express", business daily Financial Express reports.

--- IANS