American critics love Ash

Aishwarya Rai might still be reeling from the shock of her Umrao Jaan bombing in India, but American critics are still smitten with the star.

In a left-handed compliment, the review of Umrao Jaan [Images] in The New York Times starts with the declaration: 'The price of being beautiful.' It goes on to say, 'Umrao Jaan, a retelling of a historical Indian tale covered in a 1981 Bollywood classic, might also be a commentary on its star, Aishwarya Rai [Images]. Ms Rai, often hailed as the queen of Bollywood, has for many a global allure calling to mind that of Brigitte Bardot or Sophia Loren. But you hope Ms Rai does not suffer for her art as much as her character does.'

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The review by Andy Webster singles out a 'vivid Shabana Azmi [Images].' Praising Ash's allure, the 300-word review which decried the film's excessive melodrama added, 'But the actress's presence is undeniable. Ms Rai has Western films coming; Umrao Jaan seems like a way station on her path to international success.'

Umrao Jaan is another high profile movie after Jaan-e-Mann to have a soft opening overseas, but it isn't a cold turkey, at least in America and Canada [Images]. It grossed about $480,000 in its first weekend in North America, a respectable opening, taking 40 percent more than Jaan-E-Mann did in the corresponding period. But in the UK, the Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan [Images] movie made just $250,000, a few thousand more than what Don grossed there in its third weekend.

We will have to wait for one more week before we know if Umrao Jaan becomes a modest hit in North America or eats dust in its second week.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan's [Images] Don which is going stronger in the United Kingdom than in North America has grossed $2.4 million by its third weekend, and is sure to leave theaters with an impressive $3 million gross. With Dhoom 2 around the corner, the durability of Don is seriously impaired.

In the North American market, it has grossed $1.95 million and could end its profitable run with a $2.3 million total gross, about $1 million less than Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna grossed here. Jaan-e-Mann, in the meanwhile, is not showing signs of an impressive recovery and may end with a decent but unspectacular $750,000 in the lucrative North American market. It may be able to reach just about $500,000 in the United Kingdom.