Actress Aishwarya Rai and a Leicester University law graduate of Indian origin have been named co-winners of a global media award.

Haresh Sood is the co-winner of the 2004 Global Foreign Artiste Debutantes to Mainstream Media Award. Both were honored in the awards brochure for having excelled in more than one field either through film, music, fashion, education, politics or many other combined fields.

Aishwarya and Haresh were praised and honored as the highest profile South Asians achievers in global media, alongside 50 other artistes in an online awards brochure .

The Triangle Media Group Alliance is a new educational awareness campaign that has linked up with some of the world's top media bodies and award ceremonies to project South Asians positively in global mainstream media.

The award was in aid of the Eliminating Barriers for Foreign Artistes in Global Media & Art campaign.

The Chairman's Honorary Award for outstanding achievement was announced by Professor David Flint, former Australian Broadcasting Authority Chairman and former Dean of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney, for the most promising newcomers to mainstream media: Aishwarya Rai from India and Haresh Sood from UK.

Aishwarya, who has featured on the cover of Time magazine, is among India's best known actresses and has been linked with a number of international and Hollywood film projects, while Haresh has featured on the front cover of Guapos and is involved in various international projects.

Haresh, from Nottingham, achieved distinction while studying law at the University of Leicester - he earned a place among the top students in the country in an awards ceremony recognising ethnic achievement.

Haresh Sood's success followed his achievement in 'Tomorrow's Lawyer', sponsored by commercial law firm Addleshaw Booth and Co in association with the Times, in which he came third.

A former development officer for the British Council of Disabled People in Derby, Haresh studied at the University of Leicester where he read LLB Law with Italian, and an LLM Master of Law in Higher European Legal Studies with Spanish and French and studied abroad for almost two-and-a-half years on the courses in Spain, France, Italy and Australia.

He said: "Being cited for this award alongside an icon like Aish is unbelievable- and truly humbling. Five years ago I worked with a different Miss India, Sushmita Sen, and now I'm mentioned with another.

"Despite my having epilepsy, I have a positive attitude to all my work which has helped me achieve my goals in studies as well as extra curricular activities."

"Having a positive attitude is very important and encourages others with any type of disability, whether hidden or visible, to try and achieve their full potential. I hope to get this message across to the Asian communities in my future projects."

Beside his academic abilities, Haresh has a wealth of experience in the commercial sector. At the age of 17 Haresh worked with BBC Radio Nottingham and later set up his own business Haresh Sood Productions to raise funds for charity by annually staging shows, dramas, concerts and conferences.

In 1999, Haresh - himself a singer - worked with former Miss Universe and Indian film actress Sushmita Sen on a concert tour-cum-fashion show for cancer awareness. Since establishment in 1994, Haresh Sood Productions has raised over £5000 for more than 10 charities.

The talented student from Nottingham has added to his experience through membership of a range of committees including serving as an equal opportunities officer and a Labour students chairman.

He has recently performed a play in Spain, is in discussion over a film project and has also shot an advertisement.

With the aim to provide an 'illustrious platform for South Asian artistes around the world', Star TV Chief Executive from India, Peter Mukerjea described this new campaign as the best development for every type of South Asian artiste around the world.

The campaign has attracted support by professionals from many of the biggest players in the entertainment industry around the world such as MTV, BAFTA, BBC, Frames, Australian Arts Council, Plan B Productions USA & and many others.