Mahima Chaudhry
{{Short description|Indian actress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mahima Chaudhry
| birth_name = Ritu Chaudhry
| image = Mahima Chaudhry at Miraj Group Chairman's daughter Devhooti & Vikas Purohit's reception.jpg
| caption = Chaudhry in 2014
| image size =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1973|09|13}}
| birth_place = Darjeeling, West Bengal, India{{Cite news |title=Hills smile to conquer 'camera' & hearts |last=Chhetri |first=Vivek |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=21 December 2011 |access-date=15 July 2016 |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111221/jsp/siliguri/story_14908019.jsp#.V4gEoqKs-W4 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163313/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1111221/jsp/siliguri/story_14908019.jsp#.V4gEoqKs-W4}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1997–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Bobby Mukherji|2006|2013|reason=divorced}}
| children = 1
| partner =
| website =
}}
Mahima Chaudhry (born Ritu Chaudhry; 13 September 1973),{{Cite web |title=Mahima Chaudhary Turns 51: Actress’ Comeback Story of Resilience and Talent |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/mahima-chaudhary-turns-51-actress-comeback-story-of-resilience-and-talent-9046842.html |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=News18 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Then vs Now: From Pardes to Emergency, a look at Mahima Chaudhry's journey |url=https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/photo/mahima-chaudhry-birthday-2024-journey-from-pardes-to-emergency-102187/1 |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=Mid Day |language=en}} is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films. Chaudhry did a few modelling assignments and television commercials before venturing into films, with the 1997 romantic drama film Pardes, for which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.{{cite magazine|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/gallery/shah-rukh-khan-best-films/9/8077.html|title=Pardes (1997)|magazine=India Today|access-date=27 December 2014}}
She played the leading lady in several films, including Daag (1999), Dhadkan (2000), and Kurukshetra (2000), and received critical recognition for her performances in Dil Kya Kare (1999), Lajja (2001) and Dobara (2004), earning nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Dil Kya Kare and Dhadkan. This was followed by a hiatus and intermittent acting roles.
Early life
Mahima was born as Ritu Chaudhry to a Jat father from Baghpat District of Uttar Pradesh{{Cite web
|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC6ApodhlR4
|title = Actress महिमा चौधरी बोली मैं जाट हूँ, करनाल पहुंचकर
|date = 11 April 2021
|publisher = IBN24 News Network
|access-date = 25 March 2024
|archive-date = 3 April 2024
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240403074456/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC6ApodhlR4
|url-status = live
}} and a Nepalese-origin mother in Darjeeling, India.{{Cite web |url=https://www.postoast.com/mahima-chaudhry-daughter-ariana/ |title=Mahima Chaudhry Beautiful And Cute |date=27 December 2021 |publisher=Postost |access-date=25 March 2024 |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008164452/https://www.postoast.com/mahima-chaudhry-daughter-ariana/ |url-status=live }} She attended Dow Hill in Kurseong until class 10 and later moved to Loreto Convent, Darjeeling. Having grown up in the Darjeeling Hills region, she is fluent in both Hindi and Nepalese languages. She won the ‘Miss Darjeeling’ title in a local beauty contest.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=This Actress, Who Made Her Debut With A Superstar, Underwent Surgery After Horrific Accident |url=https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/celebrities/this-actress-who-made-her-debut-with-a-superstar-underwent-surgery-after-a-fatal-accident-also-battled-cancer-mahima-choudhary-1685851/amp |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=ABP Live |language=en}}
Prior to her first release Pardes, she changed her name to Mahima Chaudhry upon the recommendation by her director Subhash Ghai, who believed the letter 'M' to be lucky for leading actresses in his films.
Career
Chaudhry started her career as a video jockey.{{Cite news|last=Sonali|first=Kriti|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/67-glass-pieces-had-to-be-taken-out-of-mahima-chaudhrys-face-actor-broke-down-when-she-was-called-scarface-8940001/|title=67 glass pieces had to be taken out of Mahima Chaudhry's face, actor broke down when she was called scarface|date=15 September 2023|location=New Delhi|work=The Indian Express|access-date=21 November 2023|archive-date=20 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920040135/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/67-glass-pieces-had-to-be-taken-out-of-mahima-chaudhrys-face-actor-broke-down-when-she-was-called-scarface-8940001/|url-status=live}} She made her acting debut with Pardes, in 1997. Chaudhry played a village girl opposite Shah Rukh Khan.{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2660|title=Pardes - Movie - Box Office India|website=boxofficeindia.com}} The film was a major commercial success worldwide.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/Years/year_world_total/1997#.VbrjPp5Viko|title=Top Worldwide Grossers 1997|website=Box Office India|date=22 July 2015|access-date=22 July 2015}} For her performance, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut along with nomination for Best Actress.{{cite news|url=http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/368659.cms |title=43rd Filmfare Awards 1998 Nominations |work=Indian Times |access-date=7 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706172521/http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/articleshow/368659.cms |archive-date=6 July 2007 |agency=The Times Group}}
Chaudhry's other roles were in Daag: The Fire (1999),{{cite news |last1=Chopra |first1=Anupama |title=Film Without Fire |url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/22021999/cinema.html |access-date=10 May 2020 |work=India Today |date=22 February 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001121002700/http://www.india-today.com/itoday/22021999/cinema.html |archive-date=21 November 2000}} where she played a dual role; in Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin (1999) she played a widow forced to marry her brother-in-law; in Dhadkan (2000) she is a loving friend of a man who is madly in love with another woman: in Deewane she plays a singer in love with a thief: in Kurukshetra she plays the stubborn wife of a police officer: in Lajja she plays a young bride forced to fight dowry; in Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar (2001) she plays a stubborn tenant who will not give up her home at any cost; in Om Jai Jagadish she is the loving homemaker; in Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002) she is the sister who would do anything for her sister's happiness; in Dobara she is the frustrated housewife; in The Film she is a desperate struggling screenwriter; in Zameer: The Fire Within she is a paralytic dancer, in Film Star she is an uptight arrogant fading actress; in Home Delivery (2005) she is a South Indian superstar; and in Souten: The Other Woman (2006) she plays a desperate housewife who has an affair with her stepdaughter's boyfriend.
In 2010, Chaudhry starred in a Knightsbridge Media Production film, Pusher, directed by Assad Raja. She also worked in the thriller Mumbhaii - The Gangster, co-starring Om Puri and Sanjay Kapoor.
Political activities
In the 2021 West Bengal elections, Chaudhry campaigned for some candidates from both Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress.{{Cite web
|url = https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/west-bengal-assembly-polls-2021/story/mahima-chaudhry-bjp-campaign-tmc-1789969-2021-04-12?onetap=true
|title = Bengal polls Days after roadshow for TMC, Mahima Chaudhry campaigns for BJP
|date = 12 April 2021
|publisher = India Today
|access-date = 25 March 2024
|archive-date = 3 April 2024
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240403090817/https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/west-bengal-assembly-polls-2021/story/mahima-chaudhry-bjp-campaign-tmc-1789969-2021-04-12?onetap=true
|url-status = live
}} In 2023, there was speculation of her joining the BJP ahead of the Madhya Pradesh elections, as she met the state Minister, Vishvas Sarang, and hailed the BJP government.{{Cite web
|url = https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-bollywood-actress-mahima-chaudhary-meets-minister-vishvas-sarang-triggers-speculation-of-joining-bjp-ahead-of-elections
|title = Bollywood Actress Mahima Chaudhary Meets Minister Vishvas Sarang
|date = 14 August 2023
|publisher = FPJ
|access-date = 25 March 2024
|archive-date = 15 August 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230815143451/https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-bollywood-actress-mahima-chaudhary-meets-minister-vishvas-sarang-triggers-speculation-of-joining-bjp-ahead-of-elections
|url-status = live
}}
In 2024, Chaudhry came out in support of Prime Minister Modi, calling him an inspirational figure under whom India's respect has increased in the world.{{Cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6VHuo61wak
|title=PM Modi Is An Inspiration |date= 18 March 2024 |publisher = OTV New English|access-date=25 March 2024}}
Personal life
In 1999, while shooting for Dil Kya Kare, Chaudhry was involved in a car crash; her car rammed into a truck in Bangalore and multiple pieces of glass had to be removed from her face as a result of the accident.{{Cite web|url=https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/bollywood/article/when-67-glass-pieces-had-to-be-removed-from-mahima-chaudharys-face-after-she-met-with-an-accident/811064|title=When 67 glass pieces had to be removed from Mahima Chaudhary's face after she met with an accident|website=www.zoomtventertainment.com|date=13 September 2021 |access-date=25 April 2023|archive-date=25 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425135711/https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/bollywood/article/when-67-glass-pieces-had-to-be-removed-from-mahima-chaudharys-face-after-she-met-with-an-accident/811064|url-status=live}}
Chaudhry married Bobby Mukherji in 2006. Their daughter was born in 2007,{{Cite web |date=2020-06-08 |title=Mahima Chaudhry on challenges she has faced in life, being a single parent |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/mahima-chaudhry-on-challenges-she-has-faced-in-life-being-a-single-parent/story-msgahPWcPgwtCYrgLalaoN_amp.html |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} and the couple separated in 2013.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-07 |title=Mahima Chaudhry opens up about troubled marriage, suffering two miscarriages: 'It was due to not being in a happy space' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/mahima-chaudhry-faced-a-troubled-marriage-suffered-two-miscarriages-read-what-the-actor-shared-7262301/lite/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
Chaudhry was diagnosed and successfully treated for breast cancer in 2022.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/mahima-chaudhry-on-her-breast-cancer-now-i-am-cancer-free-my-daughter-didnt-go-to-school-for-2-months-so-that-i-stay-safe-exclusive/articleshow/92108484.cms "Mahima Chaudhry on her breast cancer"], The Times of India. Retrieved 14 July 2022. She mentioned that comedy shows such as Kapil Sharma Show helped her during her recovery from illness.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/the-kapil-sharma-show-mahima-chaudhary-thanks-kapil-sharma-for-helping-her-recover-from-cancer-says-in-my-sickness-your-show-helped-me-a-lot-to-recover/articleshow/99524026.cms?from=mdr|title=The Kapil Sharma Show: Mahima Chaudhary thanks Kapil Sharma for helping her recover from cancer; says 'In my sickness, your show helped me a lot to recover'|newspaper=The Times of India |date=16 April 2023|access-date=25 April 2023|archive-date=25 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425142921/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/the-kapil-sharma-show-mahima-chaudhary-thanks-kapil-sharma-for-helping-her-recover-from-cancer-says-in-my-sickness-your-show-helped-me-a-lot-to-recover/articleshow/99524026.cms?from=mdr|url-status=live}}
Filmography
{{Pending films key}}
=Films=
=Television=
= Music video =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders unsortable" style="text-align: margin;" |
| scope="col" style="width: 2em;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width: 18em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width: 8em;"| Performer(s) ! scope="col" style="width: 8em;"| Role ! scope="col" style="width: 8em;"| Album ! scope="col" style="width: 2em;" | {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| 2002
! scope="row"| "Tere Bina Chain Mujhe Ab Aaye Na" | Unnamed | Tera Chehra | |
Awards and nominations
See also
{{Portal|Bollywood}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|id=0154274}}
- {{Instagram|mahimachaudhry1}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestFemaleDebut}}
{{Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaudhury, Mahima}}
Category:Indian film actresses
Category:Female models from West Bengal
Category:People from Darjeeling
Category:Actresses from West Bengal
Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema
Category:Actresses in Hindi television
Category:20th-century Indian actresses
Category:21st-century Indian actresses
Category:Filmfare Awards winners