India and the world have been captivated by the timeless beauty and grace of Bollywood stalwarts Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen. In 1994, Aishwarya won the prestigious Miss World title, while Sushmita clinched the Miss Universe crown, etching their names in India's history forever. The recent viral sensation of an old photo featuring the duo has reignited discussions about their illustrious careers and enduring charm.

Sushmita Sen, the first Indian woman to win the Miss Universe title, has always been known for her resilience and determination. Her journey to the crown was filled with challenges, a fact she has candidly shared in numerous interviews, highlighting the hard work and dedication required to compete at that level.

The Miss India contest that year saw a memorable tiebreaker between Sushmita and Aishwarya, with the latter eventually winning the Miss World title. Aishwarya's global acclaim post her win catapulted her into Bollywood, where both actresses showcased their acting prowess. Sushmita, in particular, has recently garnered praise for her role as Arya in an OTT series, showcasing her versatility and talent.

The viral photo, believed to be from the time of the Miss India tiebreaker, features Sushmita and Aishwarya beaming with radiant smiles, adorned with their respective crowns. Shared on an Instagram page, the image has sparked a flurry of likes and comments, evoking nostalgia among fans.

Post her successful Bollywood career, Aishwarya Rai married Abhishek Bachchan, becoming part of the illustrious Bachchan family. They are parents to a daughter named Aaradhya. On the other hand, Sushmita Sen, though she has had several relationships, remains unmarried. She is a doting mother to her two adopted daughters, showcasing her nurturing side beyond the silver screen.

Mumbai, Oct 9 (IANS) The hit streaming show ‘Aarya’, which stars actress and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen in the titular role of Aarya Sareen, is set to return with its third season on November 3.

The International Emmy nominated show will explore the profound power of the titular character as shared by Sushmita.

The story of the show revolves around Aarya Sareen, a caring mother and a loving wife, who is unaware of the illegal business her husband is a part of. Things go bad for their family after Aarya's husband Tej Sareen, a pharma baron, is mysteriously killed.

The drug mafia and illegal syndicates seek the death of his entire family. In response Aarya joins the gangs.

The show traces her journey in becoming the mafia queen who seeks revenge against those who killed her husband.

Talking about the show, Sushmita said: “Aarya Sareen has now become a very integral part of my life. Her experiences across seasons have touched my heart. It's an honour to step back into her shoes for 'Aarya' Season 3. This season explores the profound power of Aarya, as she strikes down her enemies and begins to create an empire of her own, while grappling the threats to her loved ones. Aarya's story is a testament to a woman who defies life's constraints and will go to any lengths to protect the ones close to her. ‘Aarya’ season 3 isn't just a show, it's an emotional journey that fills me with love and pride.”

Creator, Co-producer and Co-Director of ‘Aarya’, Ram Madhvani added: “After the immense love that we have received from audiences over the last two seasons, we present to you a new era of Aarya where she leaves no stone turned. Season 3 will keep audiences on their toes with the exciting journey of Aarya to emerge as the ultimate don. Aarya will shock you. The emotional graph of her journey is exhilarating. She will own her power. Is this her final chance? You will soon find out.”

Created and co-directed by the visionary Ram Madhvani and co-produced by Amita Madhavni, Ram Madhvani, Ram Madhvani Films and Endemol Shine India, ‘Aarya’ season 3 will bow on Disney+ Hotstar on November 3.

Mumbai, Sep 27 (IANS) Comedian and actor Kapil Sharma has shared a picture posing with “beautiful people” Sushmita Sen, Anurag Kashyap and Mahima Chaudhry in a flight.

Kapil took to Instagram, where he shared a picture posing with the three cinema personalities.

In the image, the four are seen posing for a selfie. They are seen looking into a camera and smiling. 

“Journey is beautiful when people around you r beautiful @sushmitasen47 @mahimachaudhry1 @anuragkashyap10,” he wrote. 

On the work front, Kapil will be seen making a special appearance in ‘The Crew’, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tabu and Kriti Sanon. 

The story follows three women who work and hustle to move on with life. But as they try to make their way forward, their destinies lead them to some unexpected and unwarranted situations, leading them to get caught in a web of lies.

The film, directed by Rajesh Krishnan and co-produced by Balaji Motion Pictures Limited and Anil Kapoor Productions, is set to go on floors by the end of March 2023.

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) The trailer of upcoming series 'Taali' starring Sushmita Sen in the lead, showcases the revolutionary story of transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant, and her iconic fight for the recognition of the third gender in India.

The two minute 11 seconds trailer, which was unveiled on Monday starts with Sushmita's voice, saying "Namaste Mai Gauri. Ye Kahani mere jaise kayi logo ki hain, kyuki ye Gauri bhi kabhi Ganesh tha."

The video shows a glimpse of a school child, and his teacher asks him what will you become when you grow up, to which he replies, ‘mujhe maa banna hai’. The teacher says ‘mard kabhi maa nahi ban sakta'.

The little boy can be then seen wearing a saree and a red bindi on his forehead, and he performs some rituals with transgenders.

The transition happens, and Sushmita is seen in the place of that boy. She is filling an application form, where she is left confused whether to tick on the section of male or female. She is standing in between two lines - one for women, another for men. The scene gives a sense of confusion that transgenders go through when choosing (officially) what sex they belong to. There is also a glimpse of a surgery that Gauri undergoes.

Later, we see Gauri fighting for the rights of transgenders. She is heard saying "Jis desh me kutton (dogs) ka bhi census hota hai, par transgenders ka nahi, ese desh me ap logo ke beech me jeena, that is scary". Gauri is sitting with a panel on stage, and the crowd is clapping for her.

We then see some transgenders performing some rituals on her. Gauri, in a deep thought is sitting with her bare upper half, and these transgenders are happily pouring water on her. She also has turmeric on her cheeks and hands.

The trailer shows Gauri talking to an advocate, and saying, "if you are not a male or female then you are not alive", to which he replies "this is the rule". She asks "what does it take to change the rule", he says 'petition'.

Gauri is then seen saying "we have put a petition in the Supreme Court for the transgender equality. Gali ki ladaai aakhir Dilli tak pahuch hi gayi".

A news reporter asks Gauri, "transgender ko legal right milna kitna jaroori hai?", to which she replies "Jitna ek bachche ko uski maa milna". She is wearing a red saree with a yellow blouse, a red bindi with a gajra.

The trailer ends with Gauri hugging little kids, and saying, "maa hona koi gender nahi, feeling hai".

Sushmita's impressive transformation as the transgender activist, in her role of a lifetime, has heightened the anticipation for its release of the show.

'Taali' throws light on the trials and tribulations of Shreegauri Sawant’s life - her daring transformation from Ganesh to Gauri, and the discrimination she was subjected to because of that, her fearless journey towards motherhood, and the audacious battle that led to the inclusion and identification of the third gender on every official document in India.

Talking about her powerful portrayal of Shreegauri Sawant, Sushmita said: "When I was first approached for 'Taali', in my mind it was an instant yes, however, I took six and a half months to come on-board officially. I knew I wanted to be absolutely prepared, well-read and researched to take up a critical and significant responsibility like this one."

"Shreegauri Sawant is an admirable human being, I connect with her on so many aspects, and I’m fortunate to have got the opportunity to live through her incredible life, through this series. The road ahead to inclusivity is a long one, and I’m certain Taali is a force that will help spearhead this shift in consciousness," she added.

Shreegauri Sawant shared: "I am overwhelmed and grateful to the entire team of Taali for treating my story with sensitivity. After interacting and looking at the effort Sushmita put to get my nuances right, I cannot think of anyone else doing justice to my character. She has portrayed my journey with so much authenticity."

"This is not just my journey, this is the journey and the ordeal of my people, and many people around me, who are fighting for basic rights in society. The show raises some hard-hitting questions which hopefully can change the attitude of the society towards transgenders. 'Gaali Se Taali' tak ka safar mere liye bohot hi emotional journey raha. I will feel fulfilled if my story becomes a trigger for positive change in people’s outlook towards my community," added Shreegauri.

Created by Arjun Singgh Baran and Kartk D Nishandar, directed by National award-winning director Ravi Jadhav, it is written by Kshitij Patwardhan, and produced by Arjun Singgh Baran, Kartk D Nishandar (GSEAMS Production) and Afeefa Nadiadwala.

It will premiere on August 15 on JioCinema.

Mumbai, April 25 (IANS) The shooting for the third season of the series 'Aarya' resumes with actress Sushmita Sen in Jaipur.

Ram Madhvani, Showrunner, co-director and the co-producer of the show, expressed his excitement as they resumed shooting for season 3.

He stated, "Obstacles are merely opportunities in disguise, and Sushmita, our Aarya, has shown us how to overcome them with grace and strength."

"As we resume the journey for season 3, our team at Ram Madhvani Films is brimming with excitement and enthusiasm to bring our audience a riveting narrative, power-packed performances, and an unstoppable Aarya, our Sherni, who will leave a lasting impression.

We are committed to giving our best, and can't wait to showcase what we have in store for the world."

The show follows the journey of Aarya, a woman who finds herself in the world of crime after her husband's murder.

Sushmita, who essays the titular role, has won hearts with her performance in the previous seasons. The audience has been eagerly waiting to see what Aarya's next move will be, and with season 3, they will finally get their answer.