Born Sushmita Sen
November 19, 1975 (1975-11-19) (age 33)
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Other name(s) Sush
Occupation Actress
Years active 1994 – present
Life history
Biography
Sushmita was born in a Bengali family to Shubeer Sen, a former Indian Air Force Wing Commander and Subhra Sen who worked as a fashion artist and jewellry designer. She has a brother, Rajeev Sen and a sister, Neelam Sen. She was born St.Theresa’s hospital, Hyderabad, and grew up in New Delhi. She attended school at Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute studying English, and had career plans in journalism. She passed out her graduation from Maitreyi College, Delhi. In 2000, she adopted a daughter, named Renee.
In 1994, at the age of eighteen, Sushmita won the title of Femina Miss India beating out Aishwarya Rai who was the runner up. Sen represented India at the 1994 Miss Universe Pageant, held in Manila, Philippines and won.
At Miss Universe, Sushmita ranked third overall in the preliminaries, right behind preliminary winner Miss Colombia Carolina G?mez, and Miss Greece Rea Totounzi, who ranked second but won the preliminary swimsuit and evening gown competitions. Sushmita went on to place second, fifth and third in the swimsuit, interview, and evening gown semi-final competitions respectively, placing third place behind Miss Colombia and Miss Venezuela Minorka Mercado. All three women went on to be the final three contestants. In the end, the judges placed their votes on Sushmita, making her the first woman from India to become Miss Universe.
Sushmita’s rival at the 1994 Miss India pageant, Aishwarya Rai, went on to win the 1994 Miss World contest.
Film career
After her reign as Miss Universe was over, Sushmita became an actress. Her first movie, Dastak was in 1996, where she played the victim of a stalker, that didn’t do well at the box office. Her subsequent Tamil film Ratchagan, was a huge hit[citation needed]. However, it was two years later that her appearance as Rupali in David Dhawan’s movie Biwi No.1 won her the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award in 1999. The same year, she was also nominated for her role in Sirf Tum in the same category, making her an obvious choice for winner. She received critical acclaim and box office success for film Aankhen.
So far, her biggest hit has been the 2004 movie Main Hoon Na, in which she starred as Shahrukh Khan’s love interest. Later on, she played a lawyer in Main Aisa Hi Hoon opposite Ajay Devgan. In 2005, she also starred in a remake of Cactus Flower, called Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya: Sen played the lead opposite Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. Her most recent movies include Karma, Confessions and Holi (2006) opposite Naomi Campbell, Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag (2007) and the recently announced Dulha Mil Gaya (2007) opposite Shahrukh Khan.
Awards and nominations
Filmfare Awards
2000: Best Supporting Actress win for Biwi No.1 (1999)
2000: Best Supporting Actress nomination for Sirf tum (1999)
2003: Best Supporting Actress nomination for Filhaal (2002)
Star Screen Awards
2001 Best Supporting Actress win for Biwi No.1
2004 Best Actress nomination for Samay: When Time Strikes
IIFA Awards
2000 IIFA Best Supporting Actress Award win for Biwi No.1
Zee Cine Awards
2000: Best Supporting Actress win for Biwi No.1 (1999)
2003: Best Supporting Actress win for Filhaal (2002)
2005: Best Supporting Actress nomination for Main Hoon Na (2004)
National honours
2006: Rajiv Gandhi Award for her achievement in Bollywood
Filmography
Year Film Role Other notes
1996 Dastak Sushmita Sen
1997 Zor Aarti
Ratchagan Soniya Tamil film
Dubbed into Telugu as Rakshakudu
1999 Sirf Tum Neha Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award
Hindustan Ki Kasam Priya
Biwi No.1 Rupali Winner, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award
2000 Aaghaaz Sudha
Fiza Guest Appearance (song)
2001 Kyun…Ki Main Jhooth Nahin Bolta Sonam
Nayak: The Real Hero Special Appearance (song)
Mudhalvan Tamil film
Special Appearance (song)
Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai Lara Oberoi
2002 Aankhen Neha Srivastav
Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge Mehak
Filhaal… Sia Sheth Nomination, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award
2003 Samay: When Time Strikes ACP Malvika Chauhan
Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye Herself Special Appearance
2004 Vaastu Shastra Jhilmil Main Hoon Na Chandni
Paisa Vasool Baby
2005 Chingaari Basanti
Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? Naina
Main Aisa Hi Hoon Neeti Khanna
Bewafaa) Aarti
Kisna Naima Begum Special Appearance (song)
It Was Raining That Night
2006 Zindaggi Rocks Kriya
Alag Special appearance (song)
2007 Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag Durga
2009 Dulha Mil Gaya Lisa DD
Karma, Confessions and Holi Meera English film
Do Knot Disturb
Marmayogi Warrior Tamil film