Former Miss World expecting her first child

Bollywood star and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is expecting a baby with her husband Abhishek Bachchan.

News of the 37-year-old's pregnancy emerged last week when the actress' father-in-law, Bollywood screen legend Amitabh Bachchan, expressed his excitement at becoming a grandfather on Twitter and his blog.

Rai Bachchan has put her latest film on hold due to the pregnancy, its producers said yesterday.

"At this point nothing is more important than Aishwarya's well-being and good health," UTV Motion Pictures, which is making the drama Heroine, said in an emailed statement.

"In that context, we have all mutually agreed that the best step would be to avoid shooting further, rather than proceeding with an incredibly demanding schedule over the coming months."

Rai Bachchan, a former model who won the Miss World title in 1994, has starred in more than 40 Indian movies and attended the Cannes Film Festival with UTV chief executive Ronnie Screwvala in May to promote Heroine.

Indian media reports had speculated that she might be replaced in the lead role after her pregnancy was revealed.

- AAP