Miss Universe 2025 winner announced: Indian Miss Universe winners who transitioned successfully into Bollywood

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Sushmita Sen with Shah Rukh Khan in Main Hoon Na (2004). (Photo Express Archive)

After her much-celebrated win, Sushmita Sen went on to make her Bollywood debut just two years later in Mahesh Bhatt’s Dastak (1996). She played a fictionalised version of herself, who is being stalked by a mentally unstable fan named Sharad Kapoor, played by Sharad Sule. She would go on to star in films like David Dhawan’s Biwi No 1 (1999), Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s Aankhen (2002), Farah Khan’s Main Hoon Na (2004) and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), among many more.

Sushmita Sen and Govinda in the film Kyunki Main Jhoot Nahi Bolta (2001). (Photo: Express Archive)

Lara Dutta (2000)

Lara Dutta after winning the Miss Universe 2000. (Photo: Express Archive)

Lara Dutta stole everyone’s hearts in the Miss Intercontinental pageant of 1997. She then went on to win Miss India 2000 and Miss Universe 2000, held in Cyprus. The turn of the century was in fact very good to Indian pageantry, as actors Priyanka Chopra and Dia Mirza both won their respective pageants, Miss World and Miss Asia Pacific, in the same year. Dutta received the highest score in the swimsuit round, and her score in the final interview round broke the record of the highest individual score by a participant in a single round.

Lara Dutta had a record breaking interview round during Miss Universe. (Photo: Express Archive)

After her many victories, Lara Dutta moved to Bollywood, making her debut in the Raj Kanwar directorial Andaaz (2003), which also starred Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra. She went on to work on films like Soham Shah’s Kaal (2005), Anees Bazmee’s No Entry (2005), David Dhawan’s Partner (2007), and Farhan Akhtar’s Don 2 (2011).

Lara Dutta with Salman Khan in the film Partner (2007). (Photo: Express Archive)

Harnaaz Sandhu (2021)

Harnaaz Sandhu winning the 2021 Miss Universe pageant, (Photo: Reuters)

Almost two decades since India’s last win, a girl from Punjab, Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, rose through competition and emerged victorious on the big stage. After winning Miss Chandigarh and Miss Diva, Sandhu was given the opportunity to represent India at the biggest pageant of all. She answered the questions of the panel and the host, Steve Harvey, with confidence and clarity.

Harnaaz Sandhu’s family celebrating her Miss Universe win back in Punjab. (Photo: Express Archive)

Harnaaz Sandhu’s Bollywood career has only just begun. She was a part of the recently released Baaghi 4, starring Tiger Shroff and Sanjay Dutt. Harnaaz has also worked in two Punjabi films, Yaaran Diyan Poun Baaran (2023) and Bai Ji Kuttange (2022).