Lara Dutta (born 16 April 1978) is an Indian actress, entrepreneur and the winner of the Miss Universe 2000 pageant. She was previously crowned as Miss Intercontinental 1997. In her career, she has primarily worked in Hindi films. She is the recipient of several accolades including a Filmfare Award. She established herself as one of the prominent leading ladies of the 2000s.
Dutta made her acting debut with Andaaz (2003), which won her Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She went onto appear in commercially successful films including Masti (2004), No Entry (2005), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007), Partner (2007), Housefull (2010), Chalo Dilli (2011), Don 2 (2011) and Singh Is Bliing (2015).
Dutta appeared in British TV series, Beecham House. She made her web debut in 2020 with Hundred. In 2021, she portrayed Indira Gandhi in Bell Bottom.
Early life and Education
Dutta was born to a Hindu father and an Anglo-Indian mother in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Her father is Wing Commander L. K. Dutta (retired) and her mother is Jennifer Dutta. Her elder sister Sabrina and her younger sister Cheryl have served in the Indian Air Force. Nitin Sawhney, who is a music composer and DJ is Dutta’s cousin.
The Dutta family moved to Bangalore in 1981 where she completed high school from St. Francis Xavier Girls’ High School and the Frank Anthony Public School. She graduated with a degree in economics and a minor in communications from the University of Mumbai. She is fluent in English and Hindi and can also speak Punjabi and Kannada.
Personal life
Lara Dutta had a nine-year relationship with actor and model Kelly Dorji. She then briefly dated American professional baseball player Derek Jeter.
In September 2010, she got engaged to Indian tennis player, Mahesh Bhupathi. They married on 16 February 2011 in a civil ceremony in Bandra and followed it with a ceremony on 20 February 2011 at Sunset Point in Goa. On 1 August 2011, Dutta confirmed that she was pregnant with their first child. Their daughter Saira Bhupathi was born on 20 January 2012.
Lara Dutta Measurements Height Weight Bra Size Age
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lara Dutta Bhupathi |
| Nickname | Khoti (fondly called by her father) |
| Profession(s) | Actress, Model, Entrepreneur |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters– 173 cm in meters– 1.73 m in feet inches– 5’ 8” |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms– 65 kg in pounds– 143 lbs |
| Figure Measurements (approx.) | 34-28-34 |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 16 April 1978 |
| Age (as in 2023) | 45 Years |
| Birthplace | Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Zodiac sign/Sun sign | Aries |
| Signature | |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| School(s) | St. Francis Xavier Girls’ High School, Bengaluru Frank Anthony Public School, Bengaluru |
| College/University | University of Mumbai, Mumbai |
| Educational Qualification | Degree in Economics and a Minor in Communications (Distance Education) |
| Debut | Film: Andaaz (2003, Bollywood) Arasatchi (2004, Tamil) TV: Mission Ustaad (2007, as a judge) Producer: Chalo Dilli (2011) |
| Religion | She was born to a Hindu father and Christian mother |
| Caste | Kayastha |
| Food Habit | Non-Vegetarian |
| Address | Shailja Apartments in Pali Hill, Bandra, Mumbai |
| Hobbies | Cooking, Writing, Doing yoga, Water rafting, Para gliding, Bungee jumping |
| Awards/Achievements | 1995– Gladrags Megamodel India 1997– Miss Intercontinental 1997 2000– Miss Universe 2000 2004– Filmfare Best Female Debut Award (joint winner with Priyanka Chopra) 2008– Rajiv Gandhi Award for her contribution to film cinema 2012– FICCI Young Achievers Award |
| Controversies | • In 2005, she filed a suit against the ‘Gladrags’ magazine in the Bombay High Court for allegedly using her photos for the promotion of their upcoming modelling contest, which according to her was a clear violation of her copyright. Later, she won the case, and the court told the Gladrags company to stop using her photos for their promotions. • She became a victim of the wardrobe malfunction at the 2010 IIFA awards in Colombo, Sri Lanka. • On 9 April 2018, she tweeted a photo in which she displayed how she utilized her husband’s Australian Open, Wimbledon, US Open, and French Open towels to prevent water entering their home during the heavy rains. Her tweet didn’t please her husband as he angrily replied back to her with a tweet. • In December 2017, both Lara and Mahesh Bhupathi, being the brand ambassadors of Gitanjali Gems Ltd, filed an insolvency petition as operational creditors against Gitanjali. According to the couple, they were having a 2-year contract with Gitanjali for public appearances, but there were few cancellations for which Gitanjali had to pay them, but they didn’t pay their dues. |
| Boys, Affairs and More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Affairs/Boyfriends | Kelly Dorjee (Actor, Model) Derek Jeter (Former professional baseball shortstop) Tiger Woods (Golfer) Dino Morea (Actor) Mahesh Bhupathi (Tennis Player) |
| Marriage Date | 16 February 2011 |
| Marriage Place | Bandra, Mumbai |
| Family | |
| Husband/Spouse | Mahesh Bhupathi (m. 2011-present) |
| Children | Son– None Daughter– Saira Bhupathi (born in 2012) |
| Parents | Father– L.K. Dutta (Retired Army Personnel) Mother– Jennifer Dutta |
| Siblings | Brother– None Sisters– Sabrina Dutta (Elder, Indian Air Force), Cheryl Dutta (Younger) |
| Favourite Things | |
| Favourite Food(s) | Rajma chawal, South Indian cuisine, Tiramisu |
| Favourite Actor(s) | Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjeev Kumar, Nana Patekar |
| Favourite Actresses | Madhuri Dixit, Vyjayanthimala |
| Favourite Film(s) | Bollywood– Sholay, 1942 – A Love Story Hollywood– Gone with the Wind |
| Favourite Colour(s) | Black, Brown |
| Favourite Perfume(s) | Thierry Mugler Angel, Tom Ford Black Orchid, Heaven Scent |
| Favourite Hotel | Hotel Imperiale in Rome |
| Favourite Destination(s) | Goa, Italy |
| Style Quotient | |
| Cars Collection | Audi A8L, Mercedes E-Class |
| Money Factor | |
| Net Worth (approx.) | ₹53 crore or $8 million |
Pageantry
Dutta won the annual Gladrags Megamodel India competition in 1995, thus winning the right to enter the 1997 Miss Intercontinental Pageant. She was later crowned Miss Intercontinental 1997. In the year 2000, she took part in the Femina Miss India contest. In the grand finale, all her fellow Top 5 delegates were asked the same question – “If you were a police officer in the Garden of Eden, who would you punish for the original sin: Adam, Eve, or the serpent?” Dutta replied by stating:
If I was a policeman in the garden of Eden, I would take all three of them to court. Every person in life is faced with temptation, but you must be able to decide for yourself, make your own choices, and live by your own rules. Above all, fear God, because he is everywhere.
After this round, it was revealed that the scores of some contestants in the Top 5 had tied. All the delegates were subsequently asked a common question, so as to break the tie – “If ignorance is bliss, why do we seek knowledge?” to which Dutta expressed:
Knowledge is something every man is endowed with and it is up to him to make use of it. Thirst for knowledge drives every man. They say every man dies but very few men really lived. And what is life without knowledge. Would you go through life without passing something on to your children?
At the end of the event, she won the first place and the title of Femina Miss India Universe, earning the right to represent India at the 49th edition of Miss Universe.
Miss Universe
At Miss Universe 2000 in Cyprus, she achieved the highest score in the swimsuit competition and her finalist interview score was the highest individual score in any category in the history of the Miss Universe contest, as her interview saw a majority of the judges giving her the maximum 9.99 marks.
During the final question and answer round, the top 3 contestants were each asked the same question by the host, Sinbad: “Right now, there is a protest that has been staged outside the stadium posing pageants as an affront to women. Convince them that they are wrong”. To which Dutta replied:
Pageants like Miss Universe gives us young women a platform to foray into the fields that we want to and forge ahead, be it entrepreneurship, be it the armed forces, be it politics. It gives us a platform to voice our choices and opinions, and makes us strong and independent that we are today.
At the end of the event, Dutta was crowned as Miss Universe 2000, by the outgoing titleholder Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana. Dutta’s win led to her appointment as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador in 2001. In the same year, Priyanka Chopra and Dia Mirza won their respective Miss World and Miss Asia Pacific titles which gave India a rare triple victory in the world of beauty pageants. During her reign as Miss Universe, she visited 62 countries.
She is the second woman from India to be crowned Miss Universe. She received the highest score in the swimsuit competition and her finale interview score is the highest individual score in any category in the history of the Miss Universe contest.
She has been a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador since 2001, shortly after her Miss Universe win. Dutta stated, “Celebrities with the power to affect their impressionable minds therefore have a moral responsibility to impart positive messages. I am committed to using any influence I may have to do just that as a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)”.
Talk show Appearances
In 2006, Lara Dutta made an appearance in the show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal hosted by actress Simi Garewal. Dutta has made three appearances in Koffee with Karan hosted by film producer and director Karan Johar. She first made her appearances in the first season alongside Bipasha Basu and second season with Katrina Kaif. Her last appearance on the show till date was in 2010 alongside her husband Mahesh.
Lara Dutta also made an appearance in the season 1 finale of 10 Ka Dum hosted by Salman Khan alongside fellow actress Rani Mukerji.
Other Work
Lara Dutta has hosted the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 5 times. She first hosted the 3rd IIFA Awards in 2002 and subsequently the 7th IIFA Awards with Fardeen Khan in 2006, 8th IIFA Awards with Boman Irani in 2007 and the 10th IIFA Awards and 11th IIFA Awards in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The last two times she co-hosted with both Boman Irani and Riteish Deshmukh.
She was featured as a talent judge for the reality show High Fever. Dutta was also appointed as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador in 2001.
Lara Dutta is active in yoga, and offers a number of videos on YouTube, particularly for pre-natal yoga. During her pregnancy in 2012, she launched her own DVD which consisted of prenatal routines and meditation techniques.
In 2017 Lara Dutta began mentoring contestants of the Miss Diva contest. She stated “It’s exciting to be a part of this journey in finding the perfect representative who is the Indian face of beauty, who possesses elegance, confidence, poise and intelligence. This journey has always been close to my heart and I hope this season is the one that brings us that exceptional girl who will bring the Miss Universe crown back to India”.
In 2019, Lara Dutta launched her own line of beauty care products named Arias, which is a vegetarian beauty line. The brand is a culmination of her own experiences as an actor, model and mother.
Public Image
Dutta has often been regarded as one of the most stylish and socially conscious actresses in Bollywood. Her modelling background opened up opportunities to play not only glamorous roles but also character driven roles in movies like Billu. She is also known for her eloquent speaking skills.
Dutta has also been a very vocal supporter of the Me Too movement in India. Dutta stated that “I think it is about time. It is fantastic as I feel the difference today is that women are standing up for women. I think that comes from a generation shift. The older generation was largely taught that women should be quiet and don’t speak up; that they don’t come to the forefront because they should be homemakers. Women today still do all of that. We always manage the home, take care of family, we are still the troubleshooters, we wear multiple hats in a day, we juggle a million works, and we don’t let any of them drop. But now this generation of women have become more vocal, and they are empowering each other, which is a much better situation. I cannot stress enough about how essential it is to have a sisterhood, to support other women that are speaking up. Be unafraid and be unapologetic about the stand that you take, especially against male entitlement.”
Filmography
Films
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Andaaz | Kajal | Film debut |
| Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost | Kesar | ||
| 2004 | Khakee | Special appearance in the song “Aisa Jado” | |
| Masti | Monica Mehta | ||
| Bardaasht | Advocate Payal | ||
| Arasatchi | Lara | Tamil film debut | |
| Aan: Men at Work | Kiran | ||
| 2005 | Insan | Meghna | |
| Elaan | Sonia | ||
| Jurm | Sanjana Malhotra | ||
| Kaal | Ishika Malhotra | ||
| No Entry | Kaajal | ||
| Dosti: Friends Forever | Kajal Sharma | ||
| 2006 | Zinda | Jenny Singh | |
| Alag | Cameo appearance in the song “Sabse Alag” | ||
| Bhagam Bhag | Munni/Nisha/Aditi | ||
| Fanaa | Zeenat | Cameo appearance | |
| 2007 | Jhoom Barabar Jhoom | Anaida Raza/Laila | |
| Partner | Naina | ||
| Om Shanti Om | Herself | Cameo appearance in the song “Deewangi Deewangi” | |
| 2008 | Jumbo | Sonia | Voice only |
| Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi | Herself | Cameo appearance in the song “Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte“ | |
| 2009 | Billu Barber | Bindiya Rao Pardesi | |
| Do Knot Disturb | Dolly | ||
| Blue | Mona | ||
| 2010 | Housefull | Hetal Patel | |
| 2011 | Chalo Dilli | Mihika Banerjee | Also Producer |
| Don 2 | Ayesha | ||
| 2013 | David | Neelam | |
| 2013 | David | Gayathri | Tamil film |
| 2015 | Singh Is Bliing | Emily | |
| 2016 | Fitoor | Leena Becker | Special appearance |
| Azhar | Meera Verma | ||
| 2018 | Welcome To New York | Sophia | |
| 2021 | Bell Bottom | Indira Gandhi | |
| TBA | Ishq-e-Nadaan  | TBA | Completed |
Web Series
| Year | Title | Role | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Hundred | ACP Saumya Shukla | Hotstar | Web debut |
| 2021 | Hiccups and Hookups | Vasudha | Lionsgate Play | |
| 2022 | Kaun Banegi Shikharwati | Rajkumari Devyani | Zee5 |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Beecham House | Begum Samru | ITV | TV debut |