A-she-wa-ya, as she is fondly called by Chinese lads, has also intrigued the generally atheistic urban Chinese through the elaborate rituals that preceded her marriage. She, along with Shah Rukh Khan (wo ai SRK, the college girls say when the want to proclaim their love for him), have mesmerised the Chinese enough to inspire websites.

There is growing curiosity in China about Indian social and family life, and Hindi films, against all expectations, are becoming a cultural window. Photographs and stories about the Aishwarya-Abhishek marriage were prominently featured in all major newspapers and channels across China.

Needless to say, Hindi films are not part of the mainstream consciousness in China as Hollywood, Japanese or Korean films are. But increasingly, Hindi films are being noticed. State-run television channels like CCTV are stirring up a special feeling of xi ying (attraction) for Hindi movies by showing films like Devdas and Asoka with Chinese subtitles. Devdas was shown several times on Chinese television and is regarded as some kind of a TV hit.

Source: India Times