Mahima Chaudhry

Mahima Chaudhary (born Ritu Chaudhry, 13 September 1973) is an Indian actress and a former model who appears in Bollywood films. She made her acting debut in the 1997 film Pardes for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

Early life
Chaudhary was born Ritu Chaudhry in Darjeeling, West Bengal. Her father is from Kakripur village in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh and is a Jat. She attended Loreto Convent, Darjeeling (although some people remember her from Dow Hill School, Kurseong) and also attended Loreto College in Darjeeling. She won a local beauty pageant in Darjeeling before making her film debut in Pardes. The director of the film, Subhash Ghai, asked her to change her name so it begins with an M due to some superstition. He considered M to be lucky for her.

Acting career
During her acting career, Chaudhary has played a variety of roles, starting with a village girl in Pardes (1997). Her other variety of roles include; Daag: The Fire (1999) where she played a nasty prostitute, in Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin (1999). She played a widow forced to marry her brother-in-law, in Dhadkan (2000) where she's a loving friend of a man who's 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 won't give up her home at any cost, in Om Jai Jagadish she's the loving homemaker, in Dil Hai Tumhaara she's the loving sister who'd do anything for her sister's happiness, in Dobara she's the frustrated housewife, in The Film she's a desperate struggling screenwriter, in Zameer she's a paralytic dancer, in Film Star she's an uptight arrogant fading actress, in Home Delivery: Aapko... Ghar Tak (2005) she's an actress who'd do anything to get in a big movie and in Souten (2006) she plays a desperate housewife who has an affair with her stepdaughter's boyfriend.

Next to doing a variety of films, she has also worked with numerous talented actresses including Kajol, Shilpa Shetty, Urmila Matondkar, Manisha Koirala, Raveena Tandon, Rekha, Preity Zinta, Tabu, Padmini Kolhapure, and Hema Malini. When she was asked about this, she responded by saying that she enjoyed working with other actresses and she expressed her opinion to work with Juhi Chawla, her favorite actress.

Recently, Chaudhary has starred in a Knightsbridge Media Production film, Pusher, directed by Assad Raja, also starring comedian, Mani Liaqat. The film is currently in post production stage and due for release shortly.

Awards
Filmfare Awards

1998: Best Debut - Female for Pardes
Nomination

1998: Best Actress for Pardes
1999: Best Supporting Actress for Dil Kya Kare
2001: Best Supporting Actress for Dhadkan
Star Screen Awards Nomination

2001: Best Actress In A Supporting Role for Dhadkan
Zee Cine Awards Won

1998: LUX Face Of The Year for Pardes
1998: Best Female Debut for Pardes
Nomination

2005: Best Actress In A Supporting Role for Dobara
Bollywood Movie Awards Won

2001: Best Supporting Actress for Dhadkan
Personal life
Chaudhary married Bobby Mukherjee, a well-known architect, in 2006[3]. The two met at a hoteliers' conference that was being held in Las Vegas. She talked about their meeting and wedding in an interview with Times of India, "I was making an appearance there and marriage wasn't part of the plan." She was there to enjoy herself and to be part of the event when love must have struck in the 24/7 city. Chaudhary went on to say, "At a function on 19 March amongst about 10,000 Indian hoteliers and their families, we got married and nobody had an inkling. I wore a red sari as if I was decked up for the function." Also in attendance were Chaudhary's sister and some friends. They also had a formal ceremony on March 23 with Mahima wearing a sari with red border and red and white Bengali bangles.

Filmography
Year Film Role Notes
1997 Pardes Kusum Ganga Winner, Filmfare Best Debut Award & Nominated, Filmfare Best Actress Award
1999 Dil Kya Kare Kavita Kishore
1999 Daag: The Fire Kajal Verma/Kajri
1999 Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin Nisha
2000 Dhadkan Sheetal Varma Winner, Bollywood Movie Awards, Best Supporting Actress
2000 Deewane Pooja
2000 Kurukshetra Anjali
2000 Khiladi 420 Ritu Bhardwaj
2001 Lajja Maithili
2001 Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar Saraswati

2002 Bharat Bhagya Vidhata
2002 Om Jai Jagadish Ayesha
2002 Dil Hai Tumhaara Nimmi
2003 Saaya Tanya
2003 Tere Naam Special Appearance (Song)
2003 Baghban Arpita Raj (Special Appearance)
2003 LOC Kargil Yadav's wife Reena
2004 Dobara Dr. Anjali Sehgal
2005 Zameer Supriya Maheshwari
2005 The Film Sushmita Banerjee
2005 Kuch Meetha Ho Jaaye Ghulab Khan
2005 Sehar Anamika
2005 Film Star Heera Pandit
2005 No Entry Actress Uncredited
2005 Home Delivery: Aapko... Ghar Tak Maya
2006 Souten: The Other Woman Mitali
2005 Sandwich Sweety
2006 Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana Anjali
2006 Sarhad Paar Simran
2006 Gumnaam - The Unknown Ria/ simon
2006 Chess: A Game Plan Stuck / On Hold
2006 Hope and a Little Sugar Saloni
2007 Pusher Anita Post-production
2008 Gumnaam - The Mystery Ria