Juhi Chawla

Born on November 13, 1967, Juhi Chawla is a prominent Indian actress and former beauty pageant winner, renowned for her contributions to Hindi cinema from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. With her infectious charm and impeccable comic timing, she quickly rose to prominence as one of the leading actresses of her time, earning widespread acclaim and numerous accolades, including two coveted Filmfare Awards.

Chawla’s journey in the world of entertainment began with her victory in the prestigious Miss India beauty pageant in 1984. This triumph paved the way for her entry into the film industry, where she made her debut with a brief appearance in the film “Sultanat” (1986). However, it was her breakthrough role in the tragic romance “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” (1988) that catapulted her to stardom, earning her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

The pivotal year of 1993 proved to be a turning point in Chawla’s career, as she delivered stellar performances in multiple films, including “Lootere,” “Aaina,” “Darr,” and “Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke,” for which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Throughout the 1990s, she continued to shine with hits like “Deewana Mastana,” “Yes Boss,” and “Ishq,” further solidifying her status as a versatile and bankable actress.

As the new millennium unfolded, Chawla embraced challenging roles in art-house projects, earning critical acclaim for her performances in films like “Jhankaar Beats,” “3 Deewarein,” “My Brother Nikhil,” “I Am,” and “Gulaab Gang.” Additionally, she showcased her versatility by starring in several Punjabi films, including biopics like “Shaheed Udham Singh,” “Des Hoyaa Pardes,” and “Waris Shah: Ishq Daa Waaris.”

Beyond the silver screen, Chawla ventured into television, serving as a judge on the dance reality show “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa” and appearing in supporting roles in streaming series like “Hush Hush” and “The Railway Men.” Outside of her career, she has been married to industrialist Jay Mehta since 1995, with whom she shares two children. Together with Shah Rukh Khan, she co-owns the Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders and co-founded the production company Dreamz Unlimited, which produced three films, including their collaborative effort “Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani” (2000).