In the glamorous world of Bollywood, where stars often make impactful debuts, Mahima Chaudhry’s entry into the industry opposite Shah Rukh Khan was no exception. The model-turned-actress stepped into the limelight with the 1997 musical romantic drama Pardes, directed by Subhash Ghai.
Before starting her Bollywood journey, the actress, originally named Ritu Chaudhry, took on the moniker Mahima Chaudhry at Ghai’s suggestion. Ghai, known for attributing a sense of luck to actresses with names starting with M, had previously worked with leading ladies like Meenakshi Seshadri, Manisha Koirala, and Madhuri Dixit.
Pardes, featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Mahima Chaudhry in pivotal roles, alongside a talented supporting cast, became a massive commercial success. The film secured its place as the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood production of 1997, and Mahima Chaudhry earned the prestigious Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Following this triumph, Mahima was slated to appear in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1998 film Satya. Excitedly sharing this news with her fans, she expressed her anticipation for the project. However, just two days before filming commenced, Mahima was unexpectedly replaced by Urmila Matondkar.
In an interview, Mahima candidly shared her feelings of insult and disappointment, recounting how she learned about her replacement through the media. She expressed her frustration, stating, ‘When I was doing Pardes, I got the offer from Satya. All the formalities were done. I was supposed to start the shoot in two days, but they already started the shoot one day earlier with another actor who was in all his productions. And he didn’t even think it was important to call me or my manager; he changed his mind. And I had to hear it from the press.’
Despite her remarkable debut and early success, Mahima’s career trajectory faced a significant setback due to a life-altering accident. While filming Dil Kya Kare with Ajay Devgn and Prakash Jha, Mahima met with a severe car accident in Bengaluru. The crash resulted in pieces of glass penetrating her face, leading to an emergency surgery where 67 glass fragments were removed.
In 2022, the actress was with breast cancer, from which she recovered in the same year.
While Mahima Chaudhry worked in subsequent films like Dil Kya Kare, Daag: The Fire, Lajja, and Dhadkan, none could replicate the success of her debut. Now, poised for a comeback, she is set to feature in Kangana Ranaut’s political drama Emergency, portraying the influential cultural activist and writer Pupul Jayakar.
Comments
0 comment