Mahima Chaudhary (born Ritu Chaudhry, 13 September 1973) is an Indian actress and a former model who appears in Bollywood films. She made her acting debut in the 1997 film Pardes for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Early life
Chaudhary was born Ritu Chaudhry in Darjeeling, West Bengal. Her father is from Kakripur village in Baghpat, Western Uttar Pradesh and is a Jat. Her mother is a Gorkhali from Darjeeling. She attended Dow Hill school till class X and later moved to Loreto Convent for her plus two levels. She completed her ISC board in 1988. She also attended Loreto College in Darjeeling. She won a local beauty pageant in Darjeeling before moving to Delhi for college. Initially in the 90s, she appeared in TV advertisements (including the Wall's ice cream ad when the brand entered India), and was a VJ on music channels where she was noticed by Subhash Ghai. Ghai gave her a break in the movie Pardes which was released in '97. Ghai also renamed her due to some superstition. He considered M to be lucky for her.
Acting career
During her acting career, Chaudhary has played a variety of roles, starting with a village girl in Pardes (1997). Her other variety of roles include; Daag: The Fire (1999) where she played a nasty prostitute, in Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin (1999). She played a widow forced to marry her brother-in-law, in Dhadkan (2000) where she's a loving friend of a man who's madly in love with another woman, in Deewane she plays a singer in love with a thief, in Kurukshetra she plays the stubborn wife of a police officer, in Lajja she plays a young bride forced to fight dowry, in Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar (2001), she plays a stubborn tenant who won't give up her home at any cost, in Om Jai Jagadish she's the loving homemaker, in Dil Hai Tumhaara she's the loving sister who'd do anything for her sister's happiness, in Dobara she's the frustrated housewife, in The Film she's a desperate struggling screenwriter, in Zameer she's a paralytic dancer, in Film Star she's an uptight arrogant fading actress, in Home Delivery: Aapko... Ghar Tak (2005) she's an actress who'd do anything to get in a big movie and in Souten (2006) she plays a desperate housewife who has an affair with her stepdaughter's boyfriend.
Next to doing a variety of films, she has also worked with numerous talented actresses including Kajol, Shilpa Shetty, Urmila Matondkar, Manisha Koirala, Raveena Tandon, Rekha, Preity Zinta, Tabu, Padmini Kolhapure, and Hema Malini. When she was asked about this, she responded by saying that she enjoyed working with other actresses and she expressed her opinion to work with Juhi Chawla, her favorite actress.
Recently, Chaudhary has starred in a Knightsbridge Media Production film, Pusher, directed by Assad Raja, also starring comedian, Mani Liaqat. The film is currently in post production stage and due for release shortly.
Awards
Filmfare Awards
* 1998: Best Debut - Female for Pardes
Nomination
* 1998: Best Actress for Pardes
* 1999: Best Supporting Actress for Dil Kya Kare
* 2001: Best Supporting Actress for Dhadkan
Star Screen Awards Nomination
* 2001: Best Actress In A Supporting Role for Dhadkan
Zee Cine Awards Won
* 1998: LUX Face Of The Year for Pardes
* 1998: Best Female Debut for Pardes
Nomination
* 2005: Best Actress In A Supporting Role for Dobara
Bollywood Movie Awards Won
* 2001: Best Supporting Actress for Dhadkan
Personal life
Chaudhary married Bobby Mukherjee, a well-known architect, in 2006. The two met at a hoteliers' conference that was being held in Las Vegas. She talked about their meeting and wedding in an interview with Times of India, "I was making an appearance there and marriage wasn't part of the plan." She was there to enjoy herself and to be part of the event when love must have struck in the 24/7 city. Chaudhary went on to say, "At a function on 19 March amongst about 10,000 Indian hoteliers and their families, we got married and nobody had an inkling. I wore a red sari as if I was decked up for the function." Also in attendance were Chaudhary's sister and some friends. They also had a formal ceremony on March 23 with Mahima wearing a sari with red border and red and white Bengali bangles. She has a daughter named Aryana.
Early life
Chaudhary was born Ritu Chaudhry in Darjeeling, West Bengal. Her father is from Kakripur village in Baghpat, Western Uttar Pradesh and is a Jat. Her mother is a Gorkhali from Darjeeling. She attended Dow Hill school till class X and later moved to Loreto Convent for her plus two levels. She completed her ISC board in 1988. She also attended Loreto College in Darjeeling. She won a local beauty pageant in Darjeeling before moving to Delhi for college. Initially in the 90s, she appeared in TV advertisements (including the Wall's ice cream ad when the brand entered India), and was a VJ on music channels where she was noticed by Subhash Ghai. Ghai gave her a break in the movie Pardes which was released in '97. Ghai also renamed her due to some superstition. He considered M to be lucky for her.
Acting career
During her acting career, Chaudhary has played a variety of roles, starting with a village girl in Pardes (1997). Her other variety of roles include; Daag: The Fire (1999) where she played a nasty prostitute, in Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin (1999). She played a widow forced to marry her brother-in-law, in Dhadkan (2000) where she's a loving friend of a man who's madly in love with another woman, in Deewane she plays a singer in love with a thief, in Kurukshetra she plays the stubborn wife of a police officer, in Lajja she plays a young bride forced to fight dowry, in Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar (2001), she plays a stubborn tenant who won't give up her home at any cost, in Om Jai Jagadish she's the loving homemaker, in Dil Hai Tumhaara she's the loving sister who'd do anything for her sister's happiness, in Dobara she's the frustrated housewife, in The Film she's a desperate struggling screenwriter, in Zameer she's a paralytic dancer, in Film Star she's an uptight arrogant fading actress, in Home Delivery: Aapko... Ghar Tak (2005) she's an actress who'd do anything to get in a big movie and in Souten (2006) she plays a desperate housewife who has an affair with her stepdaughter's boyfriend.
Next to doing a variety of films, she has also worked with numerous talented actresses including Kajol, Shilpa Shetty, Urmila Matondkar, Manisha Koirala, Raveena Tandon, Rekha, Preity Zinta, Tabu, Padmini Kolhapure, and Hema Malini. When she was asked about this, she responded by saying that she enjoyed working with other actresses and she expressed her opinion to work with Juhi Chawla, her favorite actress.
Recently, Chaudhary has starred in a Knightsbridge Media Production film, Pusher, directed by Assad Raja, also starring comedian, Mani Liaqat. The film is currently in post production stage and due for release shortly.
Awards
Filmfare Awards
* 1998: Best Debut - Female for Pardes
Nomination
* 1998: Best Actress for Pardes
* 1999: Best Supporting Actress for Dil Kya Kare
* 2001: Best Supporting Actress for Dhadkan
Star Screen Awards Nomination
* 2001: Best Actress In A Supporting Role for Dhadkan
Zee Cine Awards Won
* 1998: LUX Face Of The Year for Pardes
* 1998: Best Female Debut for Pardes
Nomination
* 2005: Best Actress In A Supporting Role for Dobara
Bollywood Movie Awards Won
* 2001: Best Supporting Actress for Dhadkan
Personal life
Chaudhary married Bobby Mukherjee, a well-known architect, in 2006. The two met at a hoteliers' conference that was being held in Las Vegas. She talked about their meeting and wedding in an interview with Times of India, "I was making an appearance there and marriage wasn't part of the plan." She was there to enjoy herself and to be part of the event when love must have struck in the 24/7 city. Chaudhary went on to say, "At a function on 19 March amongst about 10,000 Indian hoteliers and their families, we got married and nobody had an inkling. I wore a red sari as if I was decked up for the function." Also in attendance were Chaudhary's sister and some friends. They also had a formal ceremony on March 23 with Mahima wearing a sari with red border and red and white Bengali bangles. She has a daughter named Aryana.
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
Mahima Chaudhary
