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Famous Bollywood actresses you didn`t know started off as models

Updated On: 01 November, 2017 08:01 AM IST |

As Lara Dutta celebrates her 42nd birthday on April 16, 2020, here`s a look at Bollywood actresses who started their career as models

As Lara Dutta celebrates her 42nd birthday on April 16, 2020, here`s a look at Bollywood actresses who started their career as models

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As Lara Dutta celebrates her 42nd birthday on April 16, 2020, here`s a look at Bollywood actresses who started their career as models

Lara Dutta: A charming former Miss Universe, Lara won a Filmfare best female debut award for `Andaaz` in 2003. With not many hits in her kitty, Lara still managed to impress audiences with her performance in films like `Masti`, `No Entry`, `Partner` and `Housefull`. She also diversified into production with `Chalo Dilli`, and is busy enjoying her mommy status nowadays.

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Lara Dutta: A charming former Miss Universe, Lara won a Filmfare best female debut award for `Andaaz` in 2003. With not many hits in her kitty, Lara still managed to impress audiences with her performance in films like `Masti`, `No Entry`, `Partner` and `Housefull`. She also diversified into production with `Chalo Dilli`, and is busy enjoying her mommy status nowadays.

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Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: Hers is quite a fairytale. After being crowned Miss World in 1994, she worked in Tamil films, moved to Bollywood and earned international fame through film projects and appearances at prestigious events across the shores. Counted among the world`s most beautiful women, Aishwarya has proved her acting mettle in films like `Taal`, `Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam`, `Devdas`, `Guru` and `Guzaarish`. In 2009, she was given the Padma Shri, India`s fourth-highest civilian honour, for her contribution to cinema. She made her much-anticipated comeback with the Sanjay Gupta directorial, `Jazbaa`.

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Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: Hers is quite a fairytale. After being crowned Miss World in 1994, she worked in Tamil films, moved to Bollywood and earned international fame through film projects and appearances at prestigious events across the shores. Counted among the world`s most beautiful women, Aishwarya has proved her acting mettle in films like `Taal`, `Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam`, `Devdas`, `Guru` and `Guzaarish`. In 2009, she was given the Padma Shri, India`s fourth-highest civilian honour, for her contribution to cinema. She made her much-anticipated comeback with the Sanjay Gupta directorial, `Jazbaa`.

Sushmita Sen: The Miss Universe 1994 may not have been as successful as Ash, but it is a fact that whenever she has been given scope to perform, she has excelled. Be it the other woman in `Biwi No. 1`, the hard-hitting cop in `Samay` or the sexy chemistry teacher in `Main Hoon Na`, she has excelled in each of these diverse characters.

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Sushmita Sen: The Miss Universe 1994 may not have been as successful as Ash, but it is a fact that whenever she has been given scope to perform, she has excelled. Be it the other woman in `Biwi No. 1`, the hard-hitting cop in `Samay` or the sexy chemistry teacher in `Main Hoon Na`, she has excelled in each of these diverse characters.

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Neha Dhupia: Miss India Universe 2002, Neha doesn`t have a quintessential Bollywood face and style, nor is her choice of films typically Bollywood. She may not have given super duper hits, but has won praises for films like `Kyaa Kool Hai Hum`, `Shootout at Lokhandwala`, `Ek Chalis Ki Last Local`, `Mithya`, `Singh Is Kingg`, `Dasvidaniya` and `Phas Gaya Re Obama`. She is rocking the television world with her Roadies stint and also her podcast - No Filter With Neha.

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Neha Dhupia: Miss India Universe 2002, Neha doesn`t have a quintessential Bollywood face and style, nor is her choice of films typically Bollywood. She may not have given super duper hits, but has won praises for films like `Kyaa Kool Hai Hum`, `Shootout at Lokhandwala`, `Ek Chalis Ki Last Local`, `Mithya`, `Singh Is Kingg`, `Dasvidaniya` and `Phas Gaya Re Obama`. She is rocking the television world with her Roadies stint and also her podcast - No Filter With Neha.

Priyanka Chopra: Priyanka, a former Miss World who has featured in over 40 films, is a National Award winner who ventured into singing with her debut single In my City, which was well-liked. One of the most versatile actresses, her work has been appreciated in films like `Fashion`, `Dostana`, `Kaminey`, `Saat Khoon Maaf`, `Agneepath`, `Barfi` and `Mary Kom`. She made her American TV debut with `Quantico` and Hollywood debut with `Baywatch` and now is a global star!

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Priyanka Chopra: Priyanka, a former Miss World who has featured in over 40 films, is a National Award winner who ventured into singing with her debut single In my City, which was well-liked. One of the most versatile actresses, her work has been appreciated in films like `Fashion`, `Dostana`, `Kaminey`, `Saat Khoon Maaf`, `Agneepath`, `Barfi` and `Mary Kom`. She made her American TV debut with `Quantico` and Hollywood debut with `Baywatch` and now is a global star!

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Anushka Sharma: Formerly a model, the actress was signed by Aditya Chopra for a three-film contract and made her screen debut in Chopra`s `Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi`. She later received acclaim for her role as Shruti Kakkar in `Band Baaja Baaraat` (2010). Both films fetched her a Best Actress nomination at a popular film awards ceremony. Also, she was the sole saving grace of `Jab Tak Hai Jaan`. She later went on to achieve critical and commercial success with films like, `PK`, `NH10` (which marked her debut as producer) and `Dil Dhadakne Do`. She was last seen in 2018`s Zero, opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

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Anushka Sharma: Formerly a model, the actress was signed by Aditya Chopra for a three-film contract and made her screen debut in Chopra`s `Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi`. She later received acclaim for her role as Shruti Kakkar in `Band Baaja Baaraat` (2010). Both films fetched her a Best Actress nomination at a popular film awards ceremony. Also, she was the sole saving grace of `Jab Tak Hai Jaan`. She later went on to achieve critical and commercial success with films like, `PK`, `NH10` (which marked her debut as producer) and `Dil Dhadakne Do`. She was last seen in 2018`s Zero, opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

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Katrina Kaif: Hits after hits -- that`s Katrina for you. After `Boom`, which bombed at box office, Kaif, who started as a model in London at the age of 14, has seen happy times in tinsel town. With back-to-back hits -- `Namastey London`, `Apne`, `Partner`, `Welcome`, `Race` and `Singh Is Kinng` -- this `Sheila` girl proved her critics wrong and followed up her success with `Raajneeti` `Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara`, and `Ek Tha Tiger`. In 2019, she launched her beauty brand - Kay Beauty, the make-up collection, with Nykaa.

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Deepika Padukone: A successful model, Deepika bagged a dream debut in `Om Shanti Om` opposite Bollywood king Shah Rukh Khan. Her subsequent report card was average, with projects like `Bachna Ae Haseeno`, `Chandni Chowk to China`, `Love Aaj Kal`, `Housefull` and `Lafangey Parindey`. She also turned experimental with a de-glam role in `Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey`. She later went on to deliver critical and commercially successful performances with films like `Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani`, `Chennai Express`, `Cocktail`, `Piku`, `Finding Fanny`, `Tamasha`, `Bajirao Mastani`, `Padmaavat` and the latest being `Chhapaak`.

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Deepika Padukone: A successful model, Deepika bagged a dream debut in `Om Shanti Om` opposite Bollywood king Shah Rukh Khan. Her subsequent report card was average, with projects like `Bachna Ae Haseeno`, `Chandni Chowk to China`, `Love Aaj Kal`, `Housefull` and `Lafangey Parindey`. She also turned experimental with a de-glam role in `Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey`. She later went on to deliver critical and commercially successful performances with films like `Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani`, `Chennai Express`, `Cocktail`, `Piku`, `Finding Fanny`, `Tamasha`, `Bajirao Mastani`, `Padmaavat` and the latest being `Chhapaak`.

Dia Mirza: Dia has no major money-spinners to her name, but she has films like `Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein`, `Lage Raho Munnabhai`, `Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd` and `Kurbaan` to her credit. She launched her own production company with `Love Breakups Zindagi`. Her production ventures also include the Vidya Balan-starrer, `Bobby Jasoos`. After 2018`s hit film Sanju, where she played Maanayata Dutt, Dia was seen in Thappad. She made her web-debut with Kaafir in 2019.

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Dia Mirza: Dia has no major money-spinners to her name, but she has films like `Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein`, `Lage Raho Munnabhai`, `Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd` and `Kurbaan` to her credit. She launched her own production company with `Love Breakups Zindagi`. Her production ventures also include the Vidya Balan-starrer, `Bobby Jasoos`. After 2018`s hit film Sanju, where she played Maanayata Dutt, Dia was seen in Thappad. She made her web-debut with Kaafir in 2019.

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Swaroop Sampat: Miss India 1979, she is better known as Paresh Rawal`s wife, but Sampat`s credentials came to the fore in popular 80`s comedy TV series `Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi`. Much before the zero figure craze, she appeared in a two-piece bikini in the 1984 film `Karishma` and looked ravishing. She was also the female lead in `Naram Garam`.

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Swaroop Sampat: Miss India 1979, she is better known as Paresh Rawal`s wife, but Sampat`s credentials came to the fore in popular 80`s comedy TV series `Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi`. Much before the zero figure craze, she appeared in a two-piece bikini in the 1984 film `Karishma` and looked ravishing. She was also the female lead in `Naram Garam`.

Mahima Chaudhary: She first won a local beauty pageant in her hometown Darjeeling before moving to Delhi for college. She appeared in several TV commercials most notably for the Pepsi Ad in which she shared the screen with Aamir Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Mahima was also a VJ on music channels. It was here that she was noticed by veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who gave her a break in the 1997 hit `Pardes` where she starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan. She went on to do several notable Bollywood films after that.

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Mahima Chaudhary: She first won a local beauty pageant in her hometown Darjeeling before moving to Delhi for college. She appeared in several TV commercials most notably for the Pepsi Ad in which she shared the screen with Aamir Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Mahima was also a VJ on music channels. It was here that she was noticed by veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who gave her a break in the 1997 hit `Pardes` where she starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan. She went on to do several notable Bollywood films after that.

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Zeenat Aman: Miss Asia Pacific in 1970, Aman was the sex symbol of the 70`s and 80`s along with Parveen Babi. Her work was much loved in films like `Hare Rama Hare Krishna`, `Heera Panna`, `Don`, `Insaaf Ka Tarazu` and, of course, `Qurbani`. She looks stunning even at 68.

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Zeenat Aman: Miss Asia Pacific in 1970, Aman was the sex symbol of the 70`s and 80`s along with Parveen Babi. Her work was much loved in films like `Hare Rama Hare Krishna`, `Heera Panna`, `Don`, `Insaaf Ka Tarazu` and, of course, `Qurbani`. She looks stunning even at 68.

Sonu Walia: She may never have been a leading actress, but the former Miss India (1985) and model gave an award-winning performance in a negative role in `Khoon Bhari Maang`.

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Sonu Walia: She may never have been a leading actress, but the former Miss India (1985) and model gave an award-winning performance in a negative role in `Khoon Bhari Maang`.

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Juhi Chawla: Miss India 1984, Juhi was among the most successful actresses of the 90`s. `Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak`, `Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman`, `Darr`, `Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke`, and `Yes Boss`, Juhi worked her charm in each of these movies.

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Juhi Chawla: Miss India 1984, Juhi was among the most successful actresses of the 90`s. `Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak`, `Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman`, `Darr`, `Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke`, and `Yes Boss`, Juhi worked her charm in each of these movies.

Gul Panag: Having been crowned Miss India in 1999, Panag made a highly-acclaimed debut with `Dhoop` in 2003. Although her movies have not been commercially successful, she has proved her acting capabilities in movies like `Dor`, `Manorama Six Feet Under` and `Straight`.

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Gul Panag: Having been crowned Miss India in 1999, Panag made a highly-acclaimed debut with `Dhoop` in 2003. Although her movies have not been commercially successful, she has proved her acting capabilities in movies like `Dor`, `Manorama Six Feet Under` and `Straight`.

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Aditi Gowitrikar: She started her career as a model after winning the Gladrags Megamodel Contest in 1996. She modelled for companies such as Ponds and appeared in TV commercials. Since winning Mrs World 2001, Aditi Gowitrikar continued modelling and also appeared in several Bollywood films including `Bheja Fry 2`, `Baaz` and `16 December`. She has also acted in some South Indian films. She has also worked in the Hindi TV serial `Ye Meri Life Hai` and taken part in reality shows like `Fear Factor - Khatron Ke Khiladi` and `Bigg Boss (Season 3)`.

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Aditi Gowitrikar: She started her career as a model after winning the Gladrags Megamodel Contest in 1996. She modelled for companies such as Ponds and appeared in TV commercials. Since winning Mrs World 2001, Aditi Gowitrikar continued modelling and also appeared in several Bollywood films including `Bheja Fry 2`, `Baaz` and `16 December`. She has also acted in some South Indian films. She has also worked in the Hindi TV serial `Ye Meri Life Hai` and taken part in reality shows like `Fear Factor - Khatron Ke Khiladi` and `Bigg Boss (Season 3)`.

Shikha Swaroop: Miss India 1998, Swaroop`s name became synonymous with the character of `Chandrakanta`, in the popular fantasy TV show of the same name, which was aired on national television in the early 90s.

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Shikha Swaroop: Miss India 1998, Swaroop`s name became synonymous with the character of `Chandrakanta`, in the popular fantasy TV show of the same name, which was aired on national television in the early 90s.

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Bipasha Basu: The dusky Bengali beauty, a former supermodel, has improved by leaps and bounds over a decade of her film journey. From `Ajnabee` in 2001 to `Alone`, she has come a long way, thanks to projects like `Jism`, `Raaz`, `Corporate`, `Dhoom 2`, `Race` and others. She was last seen in 2015`s Alone, opposite her husband Karan Singh Grover.

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Bipasha Basu: The dusky Bengali beauty, a former supermodel, has improved by leaps and bounds over a decade of her film journey. From `Ajnabee` in 2001 to `Alone`, she has come a long way, thanks to projects like `Jism`, `Raaz`, `Corporate`, `Dhoom 2`, `Race` and others. She was last seen in 2015`s Alone, opposite her husband Karan Singh Grover.

Mugdha Godse: Mugdha Godse was a semi-finalist at the Femina Miss India 2004 competition. She moved to Mumbai from Pune and started modelling. She spent five years modelling for commercials, music videos and walking the runway. She made her acting debut in Madhur Bhandarkar`s 2008 film `Fashion` and went on to do films like `Jail` and `All The Best`.

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Mugdha Godse: Mugdha Godse was a semi-finalist at the Femina Miss India 2004 competition. She moved to Mumbai from Pune and started modelling. She spent five years modelling for commercials, music videos and walking the runway. She made her acting debut in Madhur Bhandarkar`s 2008 film `Fashion` and went on to do films like `Jail` and `All The Best`.

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Urvashi Rautela: She won several beauty pageants and model hunts before entering Bollywood with `Singh Saab the Great`. Her recent films include `Bhaag Johnny`, `Sanam Re` and `Great Grand Masti`. Urvashi is still trying to make a mark in the industry!

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Urvashi Rautela: She won several beauty pageants and model hunts before entering Bollywood with `Singh Saab the Great`. Her recent films include `Bhaag Johnny`, `Sanam Re` and `Great Grand Masti`. Urvashi is still trying to make a mark in the industry!

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High tidal waves in Mumbai delay Lalbaugcha Raja`s visarjan

High tidal waves in Mumbai delay Lalbaugcha Raja`s visarjan

The iconic Lalbaugcha Raja idol was shifted onto a raft on Sunday afternoon after delays since morning due to high tide and technical challenges, with final immersion, delayed by several hours, expected to take place around 11 pm, officials said.

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