Sushmita Sen (born 19 November 1975) is an Indian actress and former beauty queen. In 1994 she became the first Indian woman to win Miss Universe. She went on to a film career that included Biwi No.1, Main Hoon Na and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? She later made a celebrated comeback in the streaming series Aarya (2020–2024). She is also known for adopting two daughters as a single mother.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Sushmita Sen |
| Born | 19 November 1975, Hyderabad, India |
| Age | 50 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actress, former model |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Titles | Femina Miss India 1994, Miss Universe 1994 |
| Children | 2 adopted daughters (Renee and Alisah) |
| Known for | Miss Universe 1994, Biwi No.1, Main Hoon Na, Aarya, Taali |
Early Life
Sen was born in Hyderabad into a Bengali family. Her father was a Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force, and her mother is a jewellery designer. She grew up mainly in Delhi and began modelling as a teenager.
Miss Universe 1994
In 1994 Sen won the Femina Miss India title, beating Aishwarya Rai, who went on to win Miss World that year. Sen then won the Miss Universe pageant in Manila, the Philippines, becoming the first Indian woman to hold the title. The two wins made 1994 a landmark year for India on the international pageant stage. She later served as a judge at Miss Universe 2016.
Acting Career
Sen made her film debut in Dastak (1996), playing a version of herself as a beauty queen. Her breakthrough came with the comedy Biwi No.1 (1999), co-starring Salman Khan, which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in Aankhen (2002) and in Farah Khan’s Main Hoon Na (2004), playing a chemistry teacher opposite Shah Rukh Khan. The comedy Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? (2005) was another hit. After No Problem (2010) she took a long break from films.
Sen returned in the Disney+ Hotstar crime drama Aarya (2020–2024). She played a woman who takes over her murdered husband’s drug business to protect her family. The series won her a Filmfare OTT Award and wide acclaim. In the series Taali (2023) she played Shreegauri Sawant, a transgender rights activist.
Personal Life
Sen has never married. She adopted her first daughter, Renee, in 2000, when she was 24, and her second daughter, Alisah, in 2010. She has spoken openly about living with Addison’s disease, which was diagnosed in 2014 and which she has said she recovered from by 2019. In 2023 she revealed that she had survived a heart attack. In January 2026 Invertis University awarded her an honorary doctorate.
Awards and Honours
Selected Filmography
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Sushmita Sen born?
Sushmita Sen was born on 19 November 1975 in Hyderabad, India and is 50 years old.
What is Sushmita Sen known for?
Known for: Miss Universe 1994, Biwi No.1, Main Hoon Na, Aarya, Taali.
Featured image: Sushmita Sen at Miss Universe India 2026, 23 August 2026. Photo by Vikas Tanwar, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
