Pooja Batra is a popular Bollywood actress who appears in Bollywood as well as South Indian movies. She gained recognition in the entertainment world after winning the Miss India Asia Pacific crown in 1993 which was followed by her incredible modelling career. The model turned actress made her cinematic debut in Bollywood with the movie Virasat in the year 1997. She acted in a number of movies afterwards both in Hindi and South Indian film industry. She owns a production company and is also involved in social activities.
Early Life of Pooja Batra
Pooja Batra was born on 27th of October, 1973, in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh. Her father, Ravi Batra, was an army colonel and mother, Neelam Batra, was a participant of 1971 Miss India beauty pageant. Pooja completed her schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya. During her school days she actively participated in plays, debates and sports. She was also known as a good athlete. She graduated from the Fergusson College, Pune, with a major in economics and received her MBA degree in marketing from Sybiosis, Pune. She won the Miss India Asia Pacific crown in 1993 and right after that started exploring the modelling world.
Career of Pooja Batra
Pooja Batra`s career in entertainment world began as a model. She gained popularity through the Liril soap commercial. She was also the first Indian face who launched and was a spokesperson of Head and Shoulders in India. Her ad campaigns and events as a model numbers about 250. In a short duration her name got enlisted among the top models of India. She also participated in numerous fashion shows in India as well as abroad.
She first appeared on the big screen in the movie Virasat, in 1997, in which she co starred with Tabu and Anil Kapoor. The movie fetched her instant fame and huge appreciations. She also won Sansui Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress for the movie. This was followed by her performance in several Bollywood movies including Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye, Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya, Haseena Maan Jayegi and many more. One of her movies, Taj Mahal which was a historic epic, was shown at the Cannes film festival in the year 2004.The movie featured her in the lead role. Her work also encompasses Malayalam and Tamil films. Pooja Batra has also launched a production company named Glow Bell Inc which collaborates production between Hollywood and Bollywood. It has also produced a television show called Styloholics. Pooja is the life member of International Film And Television Club of Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida. Her ventures also include acting in theatres for which she received considerable acclamations.
Other Activities of Pooja Batra
Pooja Batra has an active participation in charitable causes such as homeless children, AIDS (Mukti Foundation), injured soldiers in the Kashmir war and the Bombay Police Department. She voluntarily worked for the movie My Little Devil for raising funds for poor children in India. It was screened Chicago International Children`s Film Festival, 2000; the 24th Annual Montreal World Film Festival, 2000; 10th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival of World Cinema, 2001 and the Indian Film Festival in Malaysia, 2005.
Personal Life of Pooja Batra
Pooja Batra married orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Sonu S. Ahluwalia, in Los Angeles, California in 2002. The couple later got divorced.
Filmography of Pooja Batra
| Movie | Language | Year |
| Virasat | Hindi | 1997 |
| Vishwavidhaata | Hindi | 1997 |
| Bhai | Hindi | 1997 |
| Chandralekha | Malayalam | 1997 |
| Sham Ghansham | Hindi | 1998 |
| Saazish | Hindi | 1998 |
| Megham | Malayalam | 1999 |
| Oruvan | Tamil | 1999 |
| Haseena Maan Jaayegi | Hindi | 1999 |
| Bas Yaari Rakho | Hindi | 2000 |
| Daivathinte Makan | Malayalam | 2000 |
| Kandukondain Kandukondain | Tamil | 2000 |
| Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye | Hindi | 2000 |
| Ittefaq | Hindi | 2001 |
| Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya | Hindi | 2001 |
| Farz | Hindi | 2001 |
| Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi | Hindi | 2001 |
| Jodi No.1 | Hindi | 2001 |
| Nayak: The Real Hero | Hindi | 2001 |
| Talaash: The Hunt Begins | Hindi | 2003 |
| Parwana | Hindi | 2003 |
| Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story | Hindi | 2005 |
| Hum Tum Shabana | Hindi | 2011 |
