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Pooja Batra
Indian model and actress (born 1975) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Pooja Batra Shah (born 27 October 1975) is an Indian-American[3] actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She primarily works in Hindi films. She won the runner-up title at the Femina Miss India contest in 1993 and was crowned Femina Miss India International 1993 and represented India at Miss International 1993.[4]
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Early life and background
Batra was born on 27 October 1975[5][6] to Ravi Batra, a colonel in the Indian Army,[7] and Neelam Batra, a Miss India (1971) participant.[8] She has two brothers.[9] She is related to Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, a martyr decorated with India's highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra.[10]
Batra lived in Ludhiana with her extended family while she was young.[11] While in school, she was an athlete and competed in the 200 and 400-meter dash.[8] She graduated in Economics[9] from Fergusson College, Pune[12][8] and holds an MBA in marketing[9] from Symbiosis, Pune.[12] She participated at the Miss International beauty pageant in 1993.[13]
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Career
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At a young age, she started modelling as a part-time job. She was best known for her Liril soap commercial.[14] She was the first Indian face to launch and be a spokesperson for Head & Shoulders in India. She has participated in over 250 modelling events and ad campaigns. She shot to fame when she was crowned Miss India International in 1993.[15] She went on to become one of the top models in India. She walked the ramp for over 250 fashion shows in India and overseas.[12] She is an ambassador for Parag Sarees.[16]
Batra turned down many offers to complete her education before signing a contract with the Virasat Film Studio. The first film she signed was Virasat in 1997 followed by another film Bhai.[17] She went on to work in over 20 films including Haseena Maan Jayegi, Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya and Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye. One of her films, Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story, a historical epic, was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004.[18] She is a life member of International Film And Television Club of Asian Academy of Film & Television, Noida.
Batra has also appeared in South Indian films, including three Malayalam films[19] and two Tamil films, including a cameo in the 1995 film Aasai.
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Personal life
Batra married orthopaedic surgeon Sonu S. Ahluwalia on 9 February 2003 in New Delhi and moved to Los Angeles, California.[21][1] In January 2011, she filed for divorce in a US court, citing irreconcilable differences.[22][23]
Batra revealed her relationship with actor Nawab Shah in June 2019.[24][25] They got married on 4 July 2019 in Delhi according to Arya Samaj traditions.[26][27]
Philanthropy
Batra has volunteered time and money to charitable causes including AIDS (Mukti Foundation),[28] homeless children, the Bombay Police Department and injured soldiers in the Kashmir war.[citation needed]
She did pro bono work in the film My Little Devil (Bas Yari Rakho),[29] subtitled in Hindi, English, and French, to raise funds for the poor children in India. The film was co-produced by NFDC-La Fete (Canada) and directed by Gopi Desai. It was screened at the 24th Annual Montreal World Film Festival, 2000; Chicago International Children's Film Festival, 2000; 10th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival of World Cinema, 2001; and the Indian Films Festival in Malaysia, 2005.[citation needed]
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Filmography
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Awards and nominations
Notes
References
External links
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