Sushmita Sen Turns 49: Celebrating The Queen Who Redefined Stardom All You Need To Know

Sushmita Sen  is an Indian actress and beauty pageant titleholder, who was crowned Miss Universe 1994, thus becoming the first Indian woman to win the title

She was born on 19 November 1975, into a Bengali Baidya Brahmin family in Hyderabad to Shubeer Sen, and Subhra Sen

Sen has predominantly worked in Hindi films and is a recipient of a Filmfare Award and a Filmfare OTT Award

In 1994, at the age of 18 Sen entered and won the title Femina Miss India, earning the right to compete at the Miss Universe 1994 contest

Sen went on to place second, fifth and third in the subsequent rounds and finally won the title and crown of Miss Universe 1994

Sen made her acting debut playing a fictionalised version of herself in the thriller Dastak (1996)

She won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the comedy film Biwi No.1 (1999), and was also nominated in the category for her roles in the dramas Sirf Tum (1999)

Her other commercially successful films were Aankhen, Main Hoon Na , and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? 

After a career downturn and hiatus, Sen starred in the drama series Aarya, winning a Filmfare OTT Award, and portrayed transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant in the miniseries Taali 

Sen is the mother of two adopted daughters. At the age of 24 years old she adopted her first daughter Renee Sen in 2000 while her second daughter Alisah joined the family in 2010