Namrata Shirodkar Miss India 1993

Biography

She can freeze you with one look, melt you with a smile. Bold and brazen. Blunt and bumptious - Like fire on ice. The waif like Namrata Shirodkar has been accused of playing hot and cold, setting the climate according to her personal likes and dislikes. Labelled the 'enfant terrible' during her young modelling days (She was barely sixteen when she started modelling) her impulsive behaviour is the talk of the model world even today. Her juniors would freeze in her presence while her small group of friends sang paeans to her die hard friendship and loyalty. Loved and accepted by soma and misunderstood by others, Namrata has been the perfect contradiction, baffling every unsuspecting mind.

The mystery, the attitude, the temperament was the perfect fuel for those sultry, good looks and soon enough Namrata was riding the crest of her modelling career. Those were carefree days, fun days - days of travelling and living out of a suitcase.

She made her debut with Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, (1998). The film also starred Salman Khan and Twinkle Khanna. The film was received averagely at the box office. She then went on to star in the hit Vaastav. Her performance was appreciated and she became a known name in Bollywood.

She has played mainly supporting roles in films. Films like Pukar, Hera Pheri and Astitva went on to do well. Since then she has had a combination of average or flop films.

In 2004 she went back into the spotlight when she played the role of Jaya Bakshi in Bride and Prejudice. She played Aishwarya Rai's older sister in the film. It was a huge hit overseas particularly in the UK. She has since left the industry after her marriage.

In February 2005, she married Telugu actor Mahesh Babu. She recently gave birth to a son named Gowtham Gattamaneni on August 31, 2006.