Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1973-09-13
Mahima Chaudhry
Born Ritu Chaudhry on September 13, 1973, in Darjeeling, West Bengal, Mahima Chaudhry is a celebrated Indian actress and former model who rose to superstardom with her debut in the 1997 blockbuster Pardes. Growing up in the Darjeeling Hills, she won the "Miss Darjeeling" title and worked as a VJ and commercial model—famously appearing in a Pepsi ad alongside Aamir Khan—before being handpicked by filmmaker Subhash Ghai for her film debut. Ghai, who believed the letter 'M' brought luck to his heroines, rebranded her as Mahima. Her performance as the traditional yet spirited Ganga earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut, setting the stage for a successful career in films such as Daag: The Fire (1999), Dhadkan (2000), Lajja (2001), and Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002). Her journey, however, was marked by significant personal challenges, including a near-fatal car accident in 1999 while filming Dil Kya Kare that left her with permanent facial scarring, and a private battle with breast cancer in 2022, from which she emerged as a resilient survivor and vocal advocate for early screening. In recent years, Mahima has experienced a powerful career resurgence, moving away from leading lady roles toward complex character portrayals. In January 2025, she received critical acclaim for her role as Pupul Jayakar, the confidante of Indira Gandhi, in the political drama Emergency. This was followed by the late 2025 romantic comedy Durlabh Prasad Ki Doosri Shadi, where she starred as the bride opposite Sanjay Mishra, as well as a supporting role in the Kartik Aaryan-starrer Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri. Beyond her film work, she has become an inspirational public figure, frequently speaking at health conferences like the Young Women Breast Cancer Conference 2025 to share her survival story.
