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Lara Dutta is one of India's most famous models and among its most beloved actresses. Born in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, Lara is the daughter of a Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force, and considered joining the armed forces along with one of her sisters. Instead, however, she attended Mumbai University and graduated with a major in economics and a communication minor. During college, she began a modelling career.
She won her first major contest, the Gladsrags Model Competition, which promoted her to be the Indian representative to the Miss Intercontinental pageant in 1997. In a couple years, Lara went on to win the Femina Miss India Universe and the coveted 2000 Miss Universe, edging out supermodels from Latin America, Europe, and North America with a near perfect 10 score. The contest sky rocketed her to international stardom, prompting the United Nations to appoint her as a UN Population Fund Ambassador.
Lara has appeared in some major Indian film productions, including Arasatchi and Andaaz, the latter of which won her a Filmfare Best Female Debut award. Most recently, she was in the films Bhagam Bhag and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. |
