If there was an inspiration for Indian girls sweeping beauty contest in the years after 1994 , then the credit for this goes to 1994 Miss Universe Winner then 18-year- old stunner Sushmita Sen. If Miss Universe Crown was India’s high, the icing cake on the cake was complete when the same year’s Miss World winner too was from India. A green eyed beauty Aishwarya Rai from Mangalore.
The duo’ s smashing success saw the likes of Diana Hayden ( Miss World 1997), Yukta Mookhey ( Miss World 1999), Lara Dutta ( Miss Universe 2000) Priyanka Chopra (Miss World 2000) and the latest Miss World winner Manushi Chhillar (2017) clinching the beauty contests in the years to follow.
Blessed with stunning good looks and svelte figure Bollywood debut was a foregone conclusion as far as Sushmita was concerned. And the debut did happen in 1996 when she appeared on the big screen in film Dastak. It did not rock the Box office except for introducing her.
It was after three years in 1999 in Biwi No 1 when got a chance to act opposite superstar Salman Khan that she got noticed and made the audience dance to the foot tapping song Ishq Chaandi hai, Ishq Sona hai. Being tall gave her an impressive screen presence and in sexy western outfits she looked hot and sensuous. Her role in film was appreciated and won her the Filmfare best supporting actress award.
There was a low phase in her career with some of her films not faring well. However, A sizzling cameo song Mehboob Mere in the film Fiza starring Hrithik Roshan, Karishma Kapoor and Jaya Bachchan, somehow kept her in the limelight.
In 2004 her career got a much needed lease of life with Farah Khan’s directorial venture Main Hoon Na opposite the superstar ‘King Khan’ Shah Rukh Khan. Their sizzling chemistry ensured that the film was a Blockbuster at the Box office and it till now remains Sushmita Sen’s biggest hit.
Playing a role of a chemistry teacher Sushmita does full justice to her character. And the leggy lady with had the whole nation swooning with her sensuous hot and sexy dance moves in the chartbusting song Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha, Tumhe Jo Maine Jana, Jo Hosh Tha Woh toh Gaya.
The Main Hoon Na success was soon followed next year by a film opposite Salman Khan Maine Pyar kyun Kiya in 2005. Thereafter Sushmita’s films hardly did anything and she faded into oblivion.
As her career in Bollywood saw a slide , Sushmita Sen, the model took over, she was back to doing what she does best – Dazzle the ramp on the various fashion shows. And she has carved out a niche for herself while doing the catwalk and was a head turner. Her image of an enduring diva came to the fore. And her awesome charm was evident on the Lakme Fashion week 2024 in New Delhi . Where she as showstopper for designer Rashi Kapoor mesmerised all with her grace and elegance – donning a stunning golden sequin saree.
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When one is such a magnetic beauty , it is natural that one’s personal life will be under glare of the paparazzi . So, Sushmita’s love life and her various liaisons are always talked and written about. But the gritty lady remains unfazed by the gossip and exudes great confidence and has the guts to lead life on her own terms. It takes guts to adopt at a young age and be a proud single mother with such aplomb as Sushmita Sen. Today she is a proud mother of two lovely daughters – Reene and Alisah. Given her grit , No wonder she shares her birthday with the Iron lady of Indian politics the late Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi.
As there is the new medium nowadays to reach out to the audience , After several years former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen made a strong comeback to the industry with her debut web series — Aarya . And she was rewarded as well for her powerful performance that won her kudos – Bagging the best female actor in a drama series for her Disney+ Hotstar web series ‘Aarya’ at the first-ever ‘Filmfare OTT Awards 2020’. In the sequel too Aarya 2 she leaves her mark with a powerful performance. As she turns 49 , Sushmita Sen remains forever a diva and continues to be a head turner .
