Shikha Swaroop

{{Infobox person

| name = Shikha Swaroop

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| birth_date ={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1970|10|23}}

| birth_place = New Delhi, India

| occupation = Actress

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Shikha Swaroop (born 23 October 1970) is an Indian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the title of Miss India International 1988.{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-01-24/news-interviews/27275301_1_contestants-pageants-miss-world |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104065140/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-01-24/news-interviews/27275301_1_contestants-pageants-miss-world |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2012 |title=The making of Miss India |accessdate=2010-12-21 |work=The Times of India |date=24 January 2003}}

Career

While still in college, she became Miss India International in 1988 with Shabnam Patel and continued to wear this crown until 1991 when she relinquished it to Preeti Mankotia. {{Cite web |date=2009-08-28 |title=Miss India, Miss World, Miss Universe Winners |url=http://members.rediff.com/gmcbhopal/miss.htm |access-date=2025-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828225550/http://members.rediff.com/gmcbhopal/miss.htm |archive-date=28 August 2009 }}

No beauty contests were held during 1989 and 1990 due to the demise of the sponsor, Eve's Weekly. The contests resumed after a new sponsor, Femina, took over in 1991. Apart from being crowned Miss India 1988, she won a gold medal in the All India Pistol Shooting Championship in 1988 itself. In addition to modelling and being the brand ambassador for many products she was a fashion model for over 400 shows in India and abroad. She also played badminton on a national level. At 5 feet 11 inches tall, she was the tallest actress at the time. Her career catapulted, but she suffered major setbacks when she became seriously ill. {{Source?|date=January 2025}}

She appeared in several 1990s Hindi films, and on television in Chandrakanta, which was a huge hit. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Shikha was considered one of the most desirable women in India. She appeared as a lead in 11 movies, some of which were multi-starrers: Anil Sharma's Tahalka, Policewala Gunda, Pranlal Mehta's Police Public, Gulshan Kumar's Naag Mani, Kayda Kanoon, Pyar Hua Chori Chori, Cheetah, Thanedarni, and Awaaz De Kahan Hai.

Her other popular TV shows are Himesh Reshammiya's Andaaz, Amarprem, Anupama, Sunil Agnihotri's Yug, and Siddhant Vision's Kahan Se Kahan Tak. She made a comeback with the TV serial Kahani Chandrakanta Ki.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130501114228/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-24/tv/29809638_1_film-career-shikha-swaroop-serials Shikha Swaroop back as a 'more mature' actress!] She also played the role of Kaikeyi[http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2012/aug/080812-Shikha-Swaroop-of-Chandrakanta-fame-to-make-a-comeback-on-TV.htm Shikha Swaroop of 'Chandrakanta' fame to make a comeback on TV] in the Zee TV show Ramayan.[https://archive.today/20130103114505/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-08/tv/33099720_1_kahani-chandrakanta-ki-shikha-swaroop-channels Shikha Swaroop doesn't fear being typecast][http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/interview_im-hard-to-miss-shikha-swaroop_1728999 I’m hard to miss: Shikha Swaroop]