Robbie Coltrane

Charged with first-degree murder, she is sentenced to life imprisonment, where she befriends her cellmate, a wealthy white woman named Veronica Scott (Miranda Richardson), from whom she learns English.

Moved by her story, the cellmate asks her step brother, Edward Foster (Robbie Coltrane), a highly respected queen's counsel to file her appeal.

Her case comes to the notice of a group of south Asian social workers running an organisation called Southall Black Sisters.

Within the prison courtyard in the film Provoked

They bring her plight to the attention of the media by organising rallies to gather public support for her freedom.

She is ultimately freed by the judicial system in a landmark case called "Regina vs. Ahluwali", that redefined the word 'provocation' in the case of a battered woman.

She was reunited with her children and was subsequently given an award by the Prime Minister's wife for her crusade against domestic violence.

Queen of Bollywood, Miss Aishwarya Rai, stars in an intense deglamourised role very similar to that in Choker Bali, a film much appreciated by the UK audience.

Aishwarya Rai plays the abused wife in Provoked

Provoked was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in April this year and was highly praise by the international media.

Aishwarya Rai was present with director Jag Mundhra to promote the film through press conferences and parties.

In June, the film opened the 2006 IIFA Film Festival in Dubai. Aishwarya Rai flew down from her shooting schedule for the day to attend the premiere.

The film is said to be releasing very soon by EROS International in the UK cinemas.