ne of the most influential celebrities in India, Sushmita Sen did India proud at a tender age of 19 by winning the Miss Universe crown in 1994, making her the first Indian woman to have won the title. Two years after winning the pageant, she made her foray into the film industry and was cast alongside Mukul Dev and Sharad Kapoor in Mahesh Bhatt`s Dastak. The movie, which revolved around the life of a Miss Universe who is troubled by an obsessive stalker, opened to mixed reviews and flopped at the box office.

She then shared screen space with south Indian actor and superstar Nagarjuna in the Tamil action film Ratchagan, which is said to be one of the most expensive Indian movies at the time of its release. While she received critical recognition for her performance in the romantic movie Sirf Tum, it was the David Dhawan-directed romantic comedy Biwi No. 1 that won her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

At the age of 25, Sushmita adopted her first daughter Renee in 2000, setting an example for several people across the country and becoming a role model to many. In the early 2000s, Sushmita came to be best remembered for making a special appearance in Fiza`s song `Mehboob Mere`. Going to on star in a string of Bollywood movies, Sushmita has movies like Aankhen, Samay: When Time Strikes, and Vaastu Shastra, however, her highest-grossing movie continues to remain the Farah Khan-directed Main Hoon Na. The 2004 action comedy-drama marked her first collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan and her portrayal of the chemistry teacher Chandni Chopra won many hearts.

While she has not had an illustrious movie career, she has movies like Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya?, Main Aisa Hi Hoon, Do Knot Disturb, Dulha Mil Gaya, No Problem, and Nirbaak to her credit. In 2010, Sushmita adopted her second daughter Alisah. Continuing to inspire millions of people, Sushmita is often associated with several social causes and stands tall as one of the strongest women in the country. A role model, by all means, Sushmita is seen walking the ramp at various fashion weeks and social causes.