Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai to receive European Union

Bollywood star and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai will receive a European Union award Thursday for being an international symbol for diversity and integration. Rai, a well-known face of Indian cinema across the world, will be presented the European Union's Global Diversity Award at a ceremony in London on Thursday, her manager Hari Singh said.

"It's an honor for her to be selected and she is very excited about receiving the award," said Singh.

Hong Kong action hero Jackie Chan is also among the award winners. British member of parliament Keith Vaz, co-chair of the one-day conference on 'Celebrating Diversity in the European Union,' said there was a need for a fresh approach to integration and to recognize talent regardless of religion, culture or ethnicity.

"Aishwarya Rai is a symbol of what Asian women can achieve and a real international symbol for diversity," Vaz was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency.

Rai is a superstar in India. She has made more than 30 movies, served on the Cannes Film Festival jury and features in international ad campaigns for leading jewelry, cosmetic and cola companies, reports the AP. I.L.