Juhi Chawla (born 13 November 1967)[1] is an Indian actress, voice actress, film producer and television presenter. After being crowned as the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984, Chawla pursued an acting career. She went on to become one of the top leading actresses of Bollywood and starred in films ranging from the romances Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and Darr (1993) to Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), which earned her the Filmfare Best Actress Award, to Yes Boss (1997) and Ishq (1997).[2][3] Chawla has been mostly recognised for her comic timing in films, vivacious screen persona and is often cited by film media as one of the best actresses of Indian Cinema.[4][5] During the 2000s, after having starred in over 70 mainstream Hindi films, Chawla started acting in art and independent films. She appeared in films in her native tongue of Punjabi, and has been mostly working in parallel cinema.[5] She gained critical recognition for her performances in films like Jhankaar Beats (2003), 3 Deewarein (2003), My Brother Nikhil (2005), Bas Ek Pal (2006) and I Am (2011).[6] Since 2000, Chawla branched out into film production and television presenting as well. Early life and background Juhi Chawla was born in Ambala, Haryana, India. She is the first child born to Dr. S. Chawla and Mona Chawla. She completed her schooling from Ludhiana before the family moved over to Mumbai. She graduated from Sydenham College, Mumbai with a specialisation in HR.[7] She was the winner of Miss India title in 1984.[1] Later she won Best Costume Award for the Miss Universe contest in 1984.[8] She is also a very good dancer. In a Baaje Payal (a film based on a collection of interviews for dancers/actresses) interview, she mentioned having learnt Kathak for three (3) years and regretted giving it up as it could have helped her in her career as an actress. She is also an accomplished classical singer and has been training for the last 6 years. Career Film 1980s Chawla ventured into films with the 1986 Sultanat. She also acted in Kannada classic Premaloka directed by Ravichandran in 1987. Her first major role in Bollywood was in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in 1988, in which she starred with Aamir Khan. The film, a modern-day adaption of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, became both a major critical and commercial success. It won the Filmfare Best Movie Award, and Chawla won the Filmfare Lux New Face Award and received her first nomination for Filmfare Best Actress Award.[9] The film subsequently received classic status.[10][11] 1990s In 1990, she starred in such films as Pratibandh, which was a box office success and for which she was nominated the Filmfare Best Actress Award, and Swarg.[12] In 1992, she was nominated for a Filmfare for Bol Radha Bol which performed well commercially.[13][14] In 1993 she starred in the moderately successful project Aaina, and Lootere opposite Sunny Deol and Mahesh Bhatt's hit Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke.[15] She followed it with a leading role in Yash Chopra's thriller Darr, which went on to become the third top-grossing film of the year in India.[15] She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance in Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke.[16] Most of Chawla's films of 1994–6 were unsuccessful, though she received a Filmfare nomination for her performance as a battered wife in Daraar.[17] She had a revival in 1997 with such romantic comedies as Yes Boss, Deewana Mastana and Ishq. Ishq became one of the top-earners of the year, and Chawla received her sixth Filmfare nomination for her portrayal of a model in Yes Boss.[14][18] Chawla's pairing with Aamir Khan and their on-screen chemistry was often cited by the media as successful.[19] She has also teamed up with Shahrukh Khan in several movies, including Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Darr, Duplicate and Yes Boss. 2000s Through the 2000s, Chawla started appearing in independent and art films, and her work in the genre included the critically acclaimed films 3 Deewarein, 7½ Phere and My Brother Nikhil, which Taran Adarsh termed as "amongst the finest in her career" and Khalid Mohamed praised as "perfect," stating that "her effortless blend of conflicting emotions is what A-class acting is all about. Ms Chawla is a diamond in this little gem of a movie."[20][21][22] She won a Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress for 3 Deewarein. She was seen in Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love for which she received good reviews.[23] She starred with Urmila Matondkar in Bas Ek Pal (2006) and with Manoj Bajpai in Swami. Juhi's latest releases include Ravi Chopra's Bhoothnath with Amitabh Bachchan, in which she made her singing debut with the song "Chalo Jaane Do". Another film called Krazzy 4 with Irfan Khan and Arshad Warsi was released in 2008. In 2009, she appeared in a guest appearance in Luck By Chance to play a comic part for which she dyed her hair blonde. The film got extremely positive reviews and has got a good opening at the box office.[24] Chawla has appeared in several non-Hindi language films. She has appeared in various Punjabi films: Shaheed Uddham Singh (2000), Des Hoyaa Pardes (2004), Waris Shah: Ishq Daa Waaris (2006) and "Sukhmani – Hope for Life" (2010). Her first Malayalam film was Harikrishnans, which also starred actors Mohanlal and Mammootty. In the beginning of her career she acted in Kannada films, which include the successful Premaloka and unsuccessful films like Shanthi Kranthi and Kindara Jogi. She acted with popular Kannada actor Ravichandran in all these three films. 2010s Her most recent release was Onir's critically acclaimed feature I Am (2011). Unfolded in several chapters, the film starred Chawla alongside Manisha Koirala in an episode named I Am Megha. She played the title role of which film critic Taran Adarsh commented, "It's a delight to watch Juhi and Manisha, after a hiatus. Both deliver striking performances – even getting the language right."[25] For her performance, Chawla was awarded the Best Actress award at the 13th London Asian Film Festival and Award for Excellence in Hindi at the Asiavision Movie Awards.[26] Television During the 2000s, Chawla has also been presenter and host of numerous television shows, particularly award ceremonies, including the Filmfare Awards and the Zee Cine Awards. Chawla has been a judge for the entertainment show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa alongside Saroj Khan and Vaibhavi Merchant during the show's third season.[27] Producer Juhi later turned producer and became the co-owner of a production company called Dreamz Unlimited with Shahrukh Khan and director Aziz Mirza.[28] The first two films produced by the production company were Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Asoka. Their third film, Chalte Chalte was the first success for the company.[29] Personal life Juhi Chawla is married to industrialist Jai Mehta. The couple have two children;[30] a daughter Jhanvi born in 2001,[31] and a son Arjun born in 2003.[31] Her mother died in a car accident in Prague during the shooting of the movie Duplicate in 1998. Jai Mehta and Juhi Chawla are the co-owners of the Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders in partnership with Shahrukh Khan under their company Red Chillies Entertainment. Awards and nominations Main article: List of Awards and Nominations received by Juhi Chawla Filmography As actress Year Film Role 1986 Sultanat Zarina 1987 Premaloka Shashikal 1988 Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak Rashmi Singh 1988 Paruva Ragam Shashikal 1989 Amar Prem 1989 Chandni Devika 1989 Kindari Jogi Ganga 1989 Vicky Dada Shyamale 1989 Love Love Love Reema Goswami 1989 Goonj Sangeeta Kalekar 1990 Kaafila Kalpana Awasti 1990 Swarg Jyoti 1990 Prathibandh Shanti 1990 Tum Mere Ho Paro / Nagin 1990 Zahreelay Chamki 1990 Shandaar Tulsi 1990 C.I.D. Inspector Raksha Sharma 1991 Shanti Kranti Jyothi 1991 Shanthi Kranti Jyothi 1991 Nattukku Oru Nallavan Jyothi 1991 Benaam Badsha Jyoti 1991 Karz Chukana Hai Radha 1991 Bhabhi Asha 1992 Apon Por 1992 Bol Radha Bol Radha 1992 Radha Ka Sangam 1992 Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman Renu 1992 Mere Sajana Saath Nibhana Janki 1992 Bewafa Se Wafa Ruksaar 1992 Daulat Ki Jung Asha Agrawal 1993 Lootere Anjali 1993 Shatranj Radha 1993 Izzat Ki Roti Jyoti Prasad 1993 Pehla Nasha 1993 Tadipar 1993 Aaina Reema Mathur 1993 Darr Kiran Awasti 1993 Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke Vyaijanti Iyer 1993 Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na 1994 Eena Meena Deeka Meena 1994 The Gentleman 1994 Andaz Saraswat 1994 Andaz Apna Apna Herself 1994 Ghar Ki Izzat Geeta 1994 Bhagyavan Geeta 1994 Pramaatma 1994 Saajan Ka Ghar Laxmi 1995 Ram Jaane Bela 1995 Kartavya Kajal Sah 1995 Naajayaz Inspector Sandhya 1995 Aatank Hi Aatank Neha 1996 Talaashi 1996 Loafer Kiran Mathur 1996 Bandish Kanta 1996 Daraar Priya Bhatia 1997 Yes Boss Seema Kapoor 1997 Ishq Madhu 1997 Mr. and Mrs. Khiladi Shalu 1997 Deewana Mastana Dr Neha Sharma 1998 Saat Rang Ke Sapne Jalima 1998 Harikrishnans Mira Var 1998 Duplicate Sonia Kapoor 1998 Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate Urmila Abhyank 1999 Safari Anjali Agarwal 1999 Arjun Pandit Nisha Chopra 1999 Shaheed Uddham Singh Noor Jeh 2000 Gang Sanam 2000 Karobaar: The Business of Love Seema Saxena 2000 Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani Ria Banerjee 2001 One 2 Ka 4 Geeta Chowdha 2001 Ek Rishtaa Priti Kapoor 2001 Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa Jhoomri 2003 3 Deewarein Chandrik 2003 Jhankaar Beats Shanti 2004 Des Hoya Pardes Jassi 2005 My Brother Nikhil Anamika 2005 Paheli Gajrobai 2005 Khamosh: Khauf Ki Khaufnak Raat Dr Sakshi Saagar 2005 Home Delivery: Aapko... Ghar Tak Parvati Kakkar 2005 7½ Phere Asmi Ganatra 2005 Dosti: Friends Forever Aditi 2006 Bas Ek Pal Ira Malhotra 2006 Waris Shah- Ishq Da Waaris Bhaagbh 2007 Salaam-e- Ishq: A Tribute To Love Seema 2007 Swami Radha 2007 Om Shanti Om Herself 2008 Bhootnath Anjali Sharma 2008 Krazzy 4 Dr. Sonali 2008 Kismat Konnection Haseena Bano Jaa 2009 Luck By Chance Minty Rol 2009 Kal Kissne Dekha 2010 Sukhmani - Hope for Life Kuldeep Singh's wife 2010 Ramayana: The Epic Sita 2011 I Am Megha 2012 Krishna Aur Kans Yashoda 2012 Main Krishna Hoon 2012 Son Of Sardar Parmeet Kaur 2012 Chashme Buddoor As producer 2000 – Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani 2001 – Asoka 2003 – Chalte Chalte See also List of Indian film actresses