Winning beauty pageants guarantees an easy entry into Bollywood. However, entering Bollywood is a lot easier than sustaining there. Countless beauty queens have made their grand debut in Bollywood but only a few talented ones have managed to find success. This edition, Corporate Citizen brings you the most successful Bollywood beauty queens
The queen of sass overshone many other beauty queens to become Miss World in 2000. In 2003, she made her debut in The Hero, followed by a string of forgettable movies. PeeCee’s acting career finally took off in 2004 when she delivered stellar performances in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and of course, Aitraaz. The actor-singer, who was named in the Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, has reigned Bollywood with films like Fashion, Mary Kom, Barfi, 7 Khoon Maaf et al. She has also made her mark in Hollywood with her successful TV show Quantico and has signed three movies, ensuring that she repeats her Bollywood success in the west.
The doe-eyed beauty became Miss World in 1994. Three years later, she stepped foot into Bollywood with Aur Pyar Ho Gaya. Touted as ‘The world’s most beautiful woman’, Aishwarya soon tasted commercial success with movies such as Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas. She also wowed the audience and critics with her performance in Chokher Bali, Raincoat, Provoked, Jodhaa Akbar, Guzaarish and Sarabjit. Recently, she won hearts by slipping effortlessly into the shoes of the sauve Saba in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
Sushmita Sen became the first Indian to bring home the Miss Universe crown in 1994. Sushmita’s career in Bollywood began with Dastak, but is mostly defined by Biwi No. 1 (she bagged several awards for it too) and Main Hoon Na, in which she charmed the audience as a sultry professor.
Juhi Chawla was crowned Miss India in 1984. At the tender age of 18, she debuted with Sultanat, but made a splash with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in 1988. She went on to rule the roost in 90s with movies such as Darr, Yes Boss and Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke. Even now, she continues to be active in movies as well as produce them. Her last big screen foray was Chalk n Duster in 2016.
Zeenat Aman won the Miss Asia Pacific title in 1970, making her the first beauty queen to find success in Bollywood. The actor who debuted with Hungama, is known for choosing unconventional roles as in Insaaf ka Taraazu, for which she bagged an award for the Best Actress and Hare Rama Hare Krishna that got her a Filmfare Award. Zeenat’s career in Bollywood spanned over a decade, and she has several hits to her name.
Dia Miza
Jacqueline Fernandez
Lara Dutta
Meenakshi Seshadari
By Namrata Gulati Sapra
