In her first public appearance after her accident on the sets of Rajkumar Santoshi's Khakee (Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Tusshar Kapoor) nearly a month ago, Aishwarya Rai put her best foot forward to launch Ash's Choice, her signature collection from the Nakshatra diamond jewellery range, on May 7 in Mumbai.

Ten television actresses modelled 10 unique designs from the collection. Aishwarya finally appeared as the stage revolved, draped on a velvet couch, while Shirley Bassey's Diamonds are forever, from the James Bond flick, Diamonds Are Forever, played in the background.

Clad in a shimmering black gown, Ash was barefoot and had her injured foot in a cast as she posed for the cameras.

She returned again, dressed in an exquisite aquamarine green sari, and lit the lamp to officially unveil the collection.

Although she was escorted about the premises on a wheelchair, she hobbled on stage to announce the winners of a contest held at the function.

"The accident was quite an experience," said the stunning star. "Many of you may think it was just a little toe fracture. Actually, I fractured my ankle."

Ash, who has been out of commission for over a month, was discharged from Mumbai's Hinduja hospital on April 9.

The former Miss World, who bagged the lead roles in Gurinder Chaddha's Bride And Prejudice (Namrata Shirodkar) and Roland Joffe's The Invaders (Brendan Frazer, Vivek Oberoi), will soon leave for Cannes where she will become the first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival, starting in France on May 14.

"Although I am still recovering and tending to that fracture," she said, "it is your good wishes, prayers, love and blessings that have been with me all this time and have really helped a lot. God is great and, with your blessings, I hopefully will do India proud at Cannes."