Lara Dutta

Guide Note: Fashion model and Miss Universe 2000 Lara Dutta made her film debut in 2003, winning the Filmfare Best Debut Award.

Biography: In 1978, Lara Dutta was born to Jennifer Puddi and L.K. Dutta, the third of four daughters. Her family moved to Bangalore in 1981. In 1995, she moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in modeling. She soon found success and modeled for major companies like Bombay Dyeing.

She was the 2000 Miss India and in May of the same year became the second Indian Miss Universe. She was the first contestant ever to have the vote of every judge on the panel. During that year, the United Nations invited her to be the UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador. She accepted and was appointed in 2001.

She began acting in 2002, debuting in 2003 with Andaaz, for which she won the Filmfare Best Debut Award. She later appeared in several other films, including Masti, Kaal, No Entry, and Partner.

She dated Kelly Dorjee for seven years. The couple split in early 2008. Soon after the break-up, Dutta began dating Dino Morea, a Bollywood star and her close friend since her teen years.

She loves writing and hopes to someday film her stories. She currently lives in Mumbai, India.

Charities: Dutta works with many different charities that promote HIV/AIDS Awareness. She also supports Female Reproductive Rights and is a spokesperson for the Face to Face Program.

Dutta has worked with the United Nations on their Missing program, which deals with India's declining population ratio.

Fast Facts

1. Born: April 16, 1978
2. Birthplace: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
3. Miss Universe 2000
4. Scored highest possible in Miss Universe pageant
5. Second Indian Miss Universe
6. UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador
7. Fluent in Hindi and English
8. Turned down a role in Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions