Mahima Chaudhury (real name Ritu Chaudhury, born 13 September 1973 in Delhi India is an Indian actress and former model. She made her film debut in the 1997 film Pardes.
Mahima Chaudhry was a model before she became an actress. Her first breakthrough performance where she won rave reviews was Pardes (1997) as Ganga, the love interest of two men, Shahrukh Khan and Apoorva Agnihotri. She was chosen to be the female lead among 3000 applicants who auditioned for Pardes (1997). Her career was launched by Subhash Ghai who launched the career of Madhuri Dixit, Manisha Koirala and Aishwarya Rai. She changed her name from Ritu Chaudhry to Mahima Chaudhry since Subhash Ghai has a superstitious belief of launching big careers with actresses whose name start with M. She won rave review for her first performance in Pardes (1997) as a village girl who still values her cultures. Unlike most top actresses in India, she didn't mind playing second fiddle in films (example: Dhadkan (2000), Dil Kya Kare (1999)). Apart from her role in Pardes (1997), she also won acclaims on her role as Kavita, the loving wife of Ajay Devgan in Dil Kya Kare (1999). She was nominated in Filmfare Awards for that role. She was also nominated for her performances in Dhadkan and Dobara
She has played a variety of roles and is known as one of the few actresses who have played every different role an actress could play. Starting with the village girl in Pardes (1997), Her 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) 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 movies, 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.
She did her schooling from Loreto Convent Darjeeling, along with her older sister Ashu whose modelling career never took off. She was rumoured to have dated Dino Morea, although he has denied this. Mahima had previously dated tennis star Leander Paes; the relationship apparently ended due to his infidelity.
She married Bobby Mukherjee, a high profile Mumbai Architect, last year amidst total secrecy. On June 10, 2007 Mahima gave birth to their first child: a girl, called Aryana. Bobby already has two children from a previous marriage.
Filmfare Awards
Won
1998: Best Debut - Female for Pardes
Nomination
1998: Best Actress for Pardes
2000: Best 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 fo 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
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