Sushmita Sen

Sushmita Sen (born 19 November 1975) is an Indian actress, model and beauty queen.

Sen was born on 19 November 1975, into a Bengali Baidya family in Hyderabad to Shubeer Sen, a former Indian Air Force Wing Commander, and Subhra Sen, a jewellery designer and owner of a Dubai-based store.

She has a younger brother named Rajeev Sen, who was married to television actress Charu Asopa.

Sen attended Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute in New Delhi and St. Ann's High School in Secunderabad, but did not pursue any further higher education.

She won the Miss Universe 1994 pageant, after previously winning Femina Miss India at age 18.

She is the first Indian woman to win the Miss Universe pageant.

Since her pageant wins, she has worked as an actress.

In 1994, at the age of 18 Sen entered and won the title Femina Miss India, earning the right to compete at the Miss Universe 1994 contest.

At the Miss Universe contest, Sen ranked third overall in the preliminaries, behind Miss Colombia Carolina Gómez and Miss Venezuela Minorka Mercado.

Sen went on to place second, fifth and third in the subsequent rounds and finally won the title and crown of Miss Universe 1994.

Sen made her acting debut playing a fictionalised version of herself in the thriller Dastak (1996).

Her first film was in 1996, the thriller Dastak, in which she played the victim of a stalker, played by Sharad Kapoor.

She then starred in the 1997 Tamil action film Ratchagan, opposite Nagarjuna.

It was the most expensive Indian film at the time of its release.

In 1998, she played a low-profile reporter opposite Sunny Deol in Zor, a box office failure.

She won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as the girlfriend of a married man in the comedy film Biwi No.1 (1999), and was also nominated in the category for her roles in the dramas Sirf Tum (1999) and Filhaal... (2002).

In 1999, Sen earned wider recognition with her portrayal of Rupali Walia in David Dhawan's comedy film Biwi No.1, alongside Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor.

It received positive reviews from critics and emerged as the second highest-grossing movie of 1999.

Syed Firdaus Ashraf of Rediff.com noted, "Sen has tried hard to make a mark in a different role, but her role itself isn't worth remembering."

She won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film.

The same year, she recceived a second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Aarti in the romantic drama Sirf Tum.

For this performance, Sharmila Taliculam of Rediff.com termed her the, "star of the film".

Her last film of the year was Hindustan Ki Kasam opposite Ajay Devgn.

The film was an average grosser, despite taking a bumper opening.

Her only film in 2000, Aaghaaz saw her playing a police officer, opposite Suniel Shetty.

Anjali Abrol of Planet Bollywood stated that Sen did "decently well" in her role.

In 2001, she first appeared opposite Govinda in the fantasy comedy Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta.

Her second film of the year, Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai, was a disaster at the box office.

Her other commercially successful films include Aankhen (2002), Main Hoon Na (2004), and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? (2005).

Sen received critical acclaim for her roles in 2002.

Her first film of the year Aankhen saw her play a teacher, opposite Arjun Rampal and Akshay Kumar, was a critical success and the second-highest-grossing film of 2002.

Priya Ganapati of Rediff.com noted, "Sushmita Sen's role of Neha deserves an extra round of applause. Neha doesn't need a man to exist. She is intelligent and capable, even during the climax."

She next appeared in the action thriller Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge opposite Salman Khan.

In her final film of the year, Sen portrayed a surrogate mother in the romantic film Filhaal..., opposite Palash Sen.

After the Times Group relinquished the rights to choose the Indian representative to Miss Universe, Sen's project, I Am She – Miss Universe India, took over, running it for three years (2010–2012).

This was followed by Femina taking over.

Joining her as judges were Cynthia Bailey, Mickey Boardman, Francine LaFrak, Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes, and Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres.

After her reign as Miss Universe, Sen ventured into the Hindi film industry.

In January 2016, Sen appeared as one of the judges of Miss Universe 2016 at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines.

After a career downturn and hiatus, Sen starred in the drama series Aarya (2020–present), winning a Filmfare OTT Award, and portrayed transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant in the miniseries Taali (2023).