Juhi Chawla is an Indian actress, model and film producer, and the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984

Juhi Chawla is an Indian actress, model and film producer, and the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984. Juhi Chawla is an Indian actress, voice actress, film producer and television presenter. She has won Miss India beauty contest in 1984. She has appeared in the movies like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Darr, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and many more which earned her Filmfare Best Actress Award. She has been mostly recognised for her comic timing in films and is often cited by media as one of the best actresses in the 1990s. She has received the Excellence Award at the Asia vision Movie Awards as well as the Best Actress Award at the 13th London Asian Film Festival. The vivacious screen persona Juhi Chawla, was born on 13 November, 1967 in Ambala, Haryana. She completed her schooling from Fort Convent School, Mumbai. She graduated from Sydenham College, Mumbai with a specialisation in HR. She has won Best Costume Award for the Miss Universe contest in 1984. She has starred in over 70 mainstream Hindi films.

Juhi has done films in her natal tongue Punjabi like Sukhmani - Hope for Life, Waris Shah : IshqDaaWaaris, Shaheed Uddham Singh and has been mostly working in parallel cinema. She received good applause for her acting in movies like Jhankaar Beats, 3 Deewarein, My Brother Nikhil, Bas Ek Pal and I Am. Multi-talented queen later turned into producer and became the co-owner of a production company called "Dreamz Unlimited" with Shahrukh Khan and director Aziz Mirza. Juhi Chawla was seen in the film Chalk And Duster alongwith Shabana Azmi. The film written by Ranjeev Varma, has its music score composed by Sandesh Shandilya and lyrics penned by the veteran Javed Akhtar. The film is being produced by S3 Creations. Besides Juhi Chawla, Shabana Azmi and Anupam Kher in prominent roles, the film also stars Jackie Shroff, Zarina Wahab, Arya Babbar, Upasana Singh, Ritu Shivpuri and Divya Dutta. Juhi Chawla after being crowned as Miss India in 1984, started her acting career with hindi films. Not only in bollywood she has appeared in Punjabi movies and got good fame. Juhi has also done various commercials like pepsi, Maggi Tomato Ketchup, kurkure and many more. Since 2000, she came out into film production and television presenting as well. She has also acted in Kannada classic Premaloka. She has received Filmfare Best Movie Award and the Filmfare Lux New Face Award for her film Romeo and Juliet. She has been a judge for the entertainment show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa season 3. She has produced movies like Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Asoka and Chalte Chalte. The third film Chalte Chalte was the first success for the company. Juhi Chawla was born to Dr. S.Chawla and Mona Chawla. She got married to industrialist Jay Mehta. The couple has two children a daughter Jhanvi, born in 2001 and a son Arjun, born in 2003. The duo are the co-owners of the Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders in partnership with Shahrukh Khan under their company Red Chillies Entertainment. She has a brother named Bobby Chawla, who was the CEO of Red Chillies Entertainment, suffered a massive stroke in 2010 and died on 9 March 2014. Juhi was seen sharing screen space with her once-rival Madhuri Dixit for the first time in the film Gulaab Gang. In the 1990s both were contemporaries and never worked together. This film has washedout the missunderstanding between the two gorgeous actresses. Juhi Chawla has married to Jay Mehta, who is a British businessman owns the Mehta Group which is spread over Africa, India, Canada and USA. He owns two companies in India, one is Sauarashtra Cement Ltd and the other Gujarat Sidhee Cement Ltd. Earlier he got married to Sujata Birla, sister of Yash Birla who died in the Flight 605 plane crash in 1990. Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta has two kids, daughter Jhanvi Mehta and son Arjun Mehta. After being crowned as the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984, Chawla pursued an acting career. She went on to become one of the leading actresses of Bollywood, and starred in numerous commercially and critically successful films, from the romances Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Darr to Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, which earned her the Filmfare Best Actress Award, to Yes Boss and Ishq.

During the 2000s, after having starred in over 70 mainstream Hindi films, Chawla turned towards art and independent cinema, along with films in her native tongue of Punjabi, and has been mostly working in parallel cinema. Her turn proved to be successful, and she gained critical recognition for her performances in films like 3 Deewarein and Bas Ek Pal. Since 2000, Chawla branched out into film production and television presenting as well.

Chawla was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, India). She is the first child born to Dr. S. Chawla and Mona. She has one brother named Sanjeev. Her uncle Satish Anand is a film distributor based in Karachi, Pakistan.

She graduated from Sydenham College, Mumbai.She was the winner of Miss India title in 1984; later she won Best Costume Award for the Miss Universe contest in 1984.

From beauty contests, she moved into film - with her movie debut being Sultanat in 1986. She then starred in the Kannada film Premaloka which was a super-hit. She also acted in two more Kannada films namely Shanthi Kranthi and Kindara Jogi, which did not fare well in the box office. She also featured in Goonj with Kumar Gaurav. Her first big hit in Bollywood was Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. in 1988, in which she starred with Aamir Khan. Following films did not do as well. However, Pratibandh and Bol Radha Bol.

Chawla made a special appearance in the film Chandni (1989) produced by Yash Raj Films. She was later cast in the critically acclaimed Aaina (1993) opposite Jackie Shroff, and then in one of her biggest hits Darr (1993) with Sunny Deol and Shahrukh Khan. The same year she also starred in the hits Lootere and Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke.

She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award in 1993 for Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke. In 1994 most of her films were not sucessful. However after that she starred in several commercialy sucessful such as Loafer (1996) and Yes Boss and Ishq in 1997. Her pairing with Aamir Khan has been repeatedly successful with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1989), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke[6] and later on Ishq (1997) becoming hits.

She has teamed up with Shahrukh Khan too, delivering Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. and then later on with Darr  and Yes Boss.

Juhi later turned producer and became the co-owner of a production company called Dreamz Unlimited with Shahrukh Khan and director Aziz Mirza. The first two films produced by the production company - Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Asoka failed at the box office. Their third film, Chalte Chalte was the first success for the company.

Juhi has recently appeared in the critically acclaimed films 3 Deewarein, Phere and My Brother Nikhil for which Taran Adarsh went as far as saying that her performance was amongst the finest in her career. She won a Star Screen Award Best Supporting Actress for 3 Deewarein.

She was recently seen in Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love for which she received good reviews for her performance. She also starred with fellow superstar Urmila Matondkar in Bas Ek Pal (2006) and with Manoj Bajpai in 'Swami'. Juhi's latest releases include Ravi Chopra's Bhoothnath with Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan where she has also sung the song Chalo Jaane Do and thus made her singing debut. Another film called Krazy 4 with Irfan Khan and Arshad Warsi was released in 2008. During the 2000s, Chawla has also been noted for her work as a show presenter and host of numerous television shows, particularly award ceremonies, including Filmfare Awards and Zee Cine Awards.

Juhi's first Malayalam film was Harikrishnans, which she acted alongside both the superstars of the industry Mohanlal and Mammootty. She also has appeared in three Punjabi films: Shaheed Uddham Singh (2000), Des Hoyaa Pardes (2004), and Waris Shah: Ishq Daa Waris (2006).

Chawla is married to industrialist Jai Mehta; the couple have two children. She gave birth to her first child, a girl named Jhanvi, on 21 February 2001 and on 21 July 2003, gave birth to a son called Arjun. Her mother passed away in a car accident in Prague during the shooting of the movie Duplicate in 1998.

Jai Mehta and Juhi Chawla are the co-owners of the Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders in partnership with Shahrukh Khan's company Red Chillies Entertainment. Juhi Chawla was born in Ambala, Haryana, India. Her father was an officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). She is the aunt of actress Kiara Advani.[7] She completed her schooling from Fort Convent School, Mumbai,[8] and graduated from Sydenham College, Mumbai with a specialisation in HR.[9] She was the winner of Miss India title in 1984.[1]Later she won Best Costume Award for the Miss Universe contest in 1984.[10] She is also an accomplished dancer. In a Baaje Payal (a film based on a collection of interviews for dancers/actresses) interview, she mentioned having learned Kathak for three years and regretted giving it up as it could have helped her in her career as an actress. She is also an accomplished classical singer and has been training for the last six years.

Chawla ventured into films with the 1986 Sultanat, the film turned out to be a commercial failure. She went on to act in Kannada classic Premaloka directed by Ravichandran in 1987, the film became a Blockbuster upon its release and Chawla's performance was well received by the critics and the audience alike. Her first major role in Bollywood was inQayamat Se Qayamat Tak in 1988, in which she starred with Aamir Khan. The film, a modern-day adaption of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, became both a major critical and commercial success. A film critic[who?] wrote "Juhi Chawla already shows that she's here to stay. Not only is she naturally vivacious but she, in a wonderfully subtle way, displays Rashmi's innocence, childlikeness and determination. It's no surprise that since then Aamir and Juhi have been popular for their on screen chemistry." Another critic[who?] wrote "Though most people give credit to Aamir, this film is a classic more because of Juhi. Her charm and charisma including her "next-door girl" image created a phenomenon in India. Her plain yet so elegant salwar-suits or her innocent smile that made people crazy." It won the Filmfare Best Movie Award, and Chawla won the Filmfare Award for Lux New Face of the Year and received her first nomination for Filmfare Best Actress Award.[11] The film has since attained cult status, with the entertainment portal Bollywood Hungamacrediting it as a "path-breaking and trend setting film" for Indian cinema. In 1990, she starred in such films as Pratibandh, which was a box office success and her performance was appreciated by critics, as written "Most of Juhi Chawla's sequences are worth the watch just for her terrific performance. She is simply superb as Shanti, a toy seller who finds herself charged with murder." She also received her second nomination for the Filmfare Best Actress Award for the film. She then appeared in the family drama Swarg alongside Rajesh Khanna and Govinda, the film was a big hit upon its release.[14] In 1992, she appeared in the super hit Bol Radha Bol for which she received a Filmfare nomination for best actress.[15][16] A critic wrote[clarification needed] "Juhi was as perfect as one could wish. As a simple village belle with feisty nature she was just lovely to look at, and even after getting a sexy make-over in the second part there was still beautiful innocence to her. Her comic timing was spot on as always". Later that year she appeared in the comedy Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, the film was a hit at the box office and was her first of many collaborations with Shahrukh Khan. Shahrukh Khan attributed the success of the film to Chawla as she was a big star at that time and he still a newcomer.

In 1993 she appeared in four of the top-grossing productions of the year. Her first release was the multi-starrer Lootere opposite Sunny Deol, Naseeruddin Shah, Chunkey Pandey and Anupam Kher; the film was a success[clarification needed] at the box office. She was praised for her acting and look in the film; a film critic[clarification needed] wrote "Juhi Chawla sheds her girl-next-door image with Lootere and transforms into Bollywood sex siren with 'Main Teri Rani Tu Raja Mera' song. Performance wise Chawla steals the show. Her acting is flawless and her screen presence and beauty make it all the better." Her next release was Aaina co-starring Jackie Shroff, and was produced by Yash Chopra, the film was a big hit at the box office, solidifying Chawla's position as the leading lady of the 90's. The critics praised her performance in the film and wrote "1993 was Juhi Chawla's year with such films as Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke in which she delivered an excellent comic performance, and Darr, for which many still remember her as that highly desired "K-k-k-kiran". I actually like her more either in comedy or in roles of smart and sophisticated women, but this one definitely works. Her fragility looks very natural and so does her character's gradual transformation."

Her third release was Mahesh Bhatt's romantic comedy Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke opposite Aamir Khan, which many critics called her career best performance.Critics wrote "Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla have already proved to be a great on screen pair and here they shine once again. Aamir Khan is effective in a suitably restrained performance but it is Juhi Chawla who steals the show with her comic nirvana. Easily she is the funniest actor in the history of Hindi cinema and it would be a tough challenge for any actor to match up to that. Moreover, her effortless dialogue delivery in Tamil (especially for someone who doesn't speak the language) only further prove what a gifted actress she is." Another critic wrote " The film ultimately belongs to Juhi. Because she is the soul of all things. She is the active reason of things happening. She is the fun. She is that innocence people love. It is difficult to imagine any other actress in this role. Such is her natural charm and comic sense in this one, and she truly deserved the Filmfare she received. Looking sweet and simply throughout the film she makes you smile with her mere presence. This is definitely her best performance. Add to it she is acting opposite Aamir (the most popular pairings of the '90s), the two compliment each other and share a crackling chemistry and you are left with a feeling of bliss". The pairing of Chawla with Khan (one of the most popular on screen pairing of the '90s) resulted in hype over the film's release, and it proved a major commercial and critical success. Her comic-dramatic performance met with unanimous critical acclaim and won her several awards, including the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance in the film.

Her last release of the year was Yash Chopra's thriller Darr, alongside Shahrukh Khan and Sunny Deol. The film went on to become a blockbuster upon its release and was one of the highest grossing films of the year, making it Chawla's fourth consecutive box office hit of the year. Darr was also a major critical success, winning several awards including the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Her performance as Kiran, a girl caught between one man's love and other man's obsession was widely appreciated and to date remains one of her most memorable performances. A critic wrote "In Darr she gets to display all her talent, be it the frightened look on her face on seeing Rahul, be it the twinkle in the eyes during the song Tu hai meri Kiran or the comic chemistry with Anupam Kher, it is one of her best performances." Rediff stated "Sensuous, seductive, gorgeous, cute, vulnerable -Juhi looked every bit of a dream girl her Kiran needed to be." Chawla's curly hair and off shoulder dress became the trademark in 90s with her blockbuster Darr. All these successes made her the most successful actress of the year.

Most of Chawla's films released in 1994–6 were unsuccessful, though she appeared in Naajayaz alongside Ajay Devgan and Loafer alongside Anil Kapoor both of which were moderately successful at the box office. She received critical accalaim for her performance of a battered wife in Abbas Mustan's thriller Daraar, she received a Filmfare nomination for her performance in the film . Critics praised her performance immensely, they wrote "Juhi was really amazing in the second half. She is both vulnerable and powerful, and she looks gorgeous. Her portrayal of the abused woman, who simply decides that enough is enough, is extremely sensitive and believable. She breaks your heart pleading with her husband as he prepares to give her a beating, you fear for her in her plight, and you are proud of her once she faces him."

She had a revival in 1997 with romantic comedies Yes Boss, Deewana Mastana and Ishq. Ishq became one of the top-earners of the year and achieved blockbuster status. A critic wrote "It is Juhi Chawla, however, who steals the show with her high voltage comic delivery that is, appropriately, screamingly funny. Even in the parts when Indra Kumar has seemingly asked her to 'stretch' to be funny, she carries the scenes off with aplomb and skill. Her chemistry with Aamir is undeniable and the most memorable portions of the film revolve around their relationship." Another critic wrote "Juhi Chawla is very pretty and good fun to watch, and it is her very energetic performance that makes the film extremely interesting and comical."

Her other release of the year, Yes Boss was also a major commercial and a critical success, Chawla's portrayal of Seema Mathur was lauded by critics and she received her sixth Filmfare nomination for her portrayal of a model in the film. Critics wrote "Juhi Chawla is astonishing and enchanting as Seema. She displays both decisiveness, liveliness and confusion, and shows many sides of her personality, including dreaminess, love, anger and compassion. The growth in her character is believable, and as expected she is splendid in comic sequences." Planet Bollywood said "This is Chawla's best movie, she stands beautiful and can easily outshine other actresses in acting as well as looks. Her acting is the strong point of the film and this film gives her the chance to portray a multilayered character and show how her versatility.

In the comedy Deewana Mastana, Chawla played the role of Dr. Neha Sharma, who forms the love interest of Kapoor and Govinda and ends up marrying Salman Khan. Planet Bollywood wrote "Juhi needs to look gorgeous in the movie, while showing indifference towards the monkeys who are after her. She is impeccable in the acting requirements, but looking beautiful is not always easy since working in a David Dhawan movie requires the hero and heroine to wear garishly coloured/designed outfits. However, in the end Juhi probably won over David and in the entire film her attire and looks could both kill". The film was a major commercial success and performed extremely well at the box office. Her other release of the year was Mr and Mrs Khiladi alongside Akshay Kumar. The film turned out to be an average grosser and Chawla's performance received immense appreciation. A critic wrote " Juhi Chawla, as usual has done wonders in the film and her chirpy, zestful role proves her comic talent, that no other Indian actress has." Another critic said " As expected Juhi Chawla dominates the show with her perfect comic timing. Indian women are never expected to be funny, but Juhi gets all the respect in my book for being the reigning comic beauty of India." Planet Bollywood while reviewing the film wrote " Juhi's comedic timing (as well as her look in the movie) is near perfection".

In 1998 she appeared once again alongside Shahrukh Khan in Duplicate, the film was produced by Yash Johar and was directed by Mahesh Bhatt. The film underperformed at the box office upon its release. However, Chawla won much appreciation for her performance and her chemistry with Khan was also appreciated. A critic wrote "Juhi Chawla is one of my favourite actresses and she is simply wonderful here. I’m not sure how she manages to keep a straight face through some of Shah Rukh’s more insane moments, but she plays Sonia as quite a serious career woman with a tendency to lecture in English. Although I do prefer her romance with Shah Rukh in Yes Boss they still make a sweet couple here."[20] The same year she appeared in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's swan song Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate alongside Anil Kapoor, her performance was appreciated by the audiences and critics alike. Rediff while reviewing the film wrote " Only Juhi as the daughter is not based on any character from Hrishida's collection. She carries off her role with her inevitable chirpiness, and looks very good too. Hrishida was right when he told me that Juhi's serene face suited the kind of sacrifice she would make in the film. Only Jaya Bhaduri has managed that serenity in Hrishida's films." However the film flopped at the box-office.

In 1999 she appeared in Arjun Pandit alongside Sunny Deol, the film was a success at the box office and Chawla received favorable reviews for her role with shades of grey in the film, a critic while reviewing the film for planet Bollywood wrote "Juhi is great during the climax as already mentioned, her character has several shades, in the first half she is bubbly and fun loving and later on her character takes a U turn, her performance shows her versatility and she clearly overshadows the hero in the film, she gives a great performance. Juhi makes the best of what she is given.

Chawla's pairing with Aamir Khan and their on-screen chemistry was often cited by the media as successful.[21] She has also teamed up with Shahrukh Khan in several movies, including Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Darr, Duplicate and Yes Boss.

Through the 2000s, Chawla started appearing in independent and art films, and her work in the genre included the critically acclaimed films 3 Deewarein, 7½ Phere and My Brother Nikhil, which Taran Adarsh termed as "amongst the finest in her career" and Khalid Mohamed praised as "perfect," stating that "her effortless blend of conflicting emotions is what A-class acting is all about. Ms Chawla is a diamond in this little gem of a movie."[22][23][24] She won a Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress for 3 Deewarein.

She was seen in Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love for which she received good reviews. Critics wrote "among women it is Juhi Chawla with her sensitive approach who has the greatest acting prowesness"[25] She starred with Urmila Matondkar in Bas Ek Pal (2006) and with Manoj Bajpai in Swami. Juhi then appeared Ravi Chopra'sBhoothnath with Amitabh Bachchan, in which she made her singing debut with the song "Chalo Jaane Do", the film was a moderate success and Chawla was appreciated for her role. Another film called Krazzy 4 with Irfan Khan and Arshad Warsi was released in 2008, the film failed to do well at the box office. In 2009, she appeared in a guest appearance in Luck By Chance to play a comic part for which she dyed her hair blonde. The film and Chawla's performance got extremely positive reviews and got a good opening at the box office.[26]

Chawla has appeared in several non-Hindi language films. She has appeared in various Punjabi films: Shaheed Uddham Singh (2000), Des Hoyaa Pardes (2004), Waris Shah: Ishq Daa Waaris (2006) and "Sukhmani – Hope for Life" (2010). Her first Malayalam film was Harikrishnans, which also starred actors Mohanlal and Mammootty. In the beginning of her career she acted in Kannada films, which include the successful Premaloka and unsuccessful films like Shanthi Kranthi and Kindara Jogi. She acted with popular Kannada actor Ravichandran in all these three films.

After appearing in art films and occasionally playing supporting roles and guest appearances throughout the decade, Chawla made a full-fledged comeback in 2014 with the heavily hyped woman-centric Gulab Gang alongside her once arch rival Madhuri Dixit. This was the first time in her long career that she played the role of an antagonist. Her negative role in the film was widely appreciated and her performance earned rave reviews. Many critics called it her career best performance, and many critics said that Juhi Chawla’s villainous avatar overpowers Madhuri Dixit Nene’s heroic act.

Bollywood life wrote "It’s quite surprising as well as delightful to watch Juhi, who is known for her angelic roles, playing a mean evil politico head. She sends policemen on sick leave when they refuse to bow in front of her. She takes revenge from people, who call her ‘Soumitra’ instead of addressing her as the ‘Madamji’. She mock tears during a political speech as she talks about her late husband and in the next scene curses the insurance company for not giving her the due money. Bollywood has got it’s [sic] new villain in Juhi. Though the dhak-dhak girl enjoys more screen presence as compared to Juhi, it’s the latter who shines brighter in this film."

Emirates wrote "This, however, works in favour of Juhi, who emerges far more influential and striking as the conniving politico head ‘Madam’. Devoid of any references to her earlier Bollywood image, Juhi sticks to her character, and brilliantly plays her various insecurities and her determination to strike out anyone in the race to political glory. And this, despite being given a role that’s got far less prominence on the script than rebel frontrunner Rajjo. Although the character could have appeared jaded, Juhi plays it with impeccable restraint and concentrates on her wavering temperament with incredible flair, making this her most significant performance to date."

Another critic wrote "Though the project was widely promoted as a Madhuri Dixit film in its entire promotional campaign and print advertisements. But in reality its Juhi Chawla who makes a more killer impact in her first ever role of a vamp unarguably. Hence as an exciting surprise, here we have the beautiful Juhi in a completely new negative avatar played real well, offering a lot more than the viewer's expectations from the talented actress. In other words, where Madhuri's decent attempt struggles to make an instant connect due to her mixed language (accent) or all meaningless songs (dances), there Juhi takes the full advantage of this unintentional flaw and emerges as a clear winner in this on screen contest evidently."[28]

She eventually won the prestigious Best Actress award at the Dadasaheb Phalke Awards ceremony for her performance. It earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

She appeared with Helen Mirren and Om Puri in the Steven Spielberg-produced Hollywood film The Hundred Foot Journey