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{{short description|Indian actress}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox pageant titleholder
| name = Pooja Batra
| image = Pooja Batra.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|10|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Faizabad]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India<ref name="rmr"/>
| height = 5 ft 9 in<ref>{{cite news |title=Pooja Batra Gets the Royal Ignore at Cannes 2016, Even After Having 'Influential' Friends. Surprising! |url=https://daily.bhaskar.com/news/ENT-BOW-cannes-2016-pooja-batra-5327168-PHO.html |access-date=9 October 2020 |work=dailybhaskar |date=18 May 2016 |language=en}}</ref>
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|model}}
| title = [[Femina Miss India|Femina Miss India International 1993]]
| competitions = [[Femina Miss India]]<br/>(Miss India 3)<br/>(Miss India International)<br/>[[Miss International 1993]]<br/>(Semi-finalist)
| spouse = {{unbulleted list|{{Marriage|Sonu S. Ahluwalia|2002|2011|end=divorced}}|{{Marriage|[[Nawab Shah (actor)|Nawab Shah]]|2019}}}}
}}

'''Pooja Batra''' (27 October 1975) is an Indian actress and model who primarily works in [[Hindi]] films. She was crowned [[Femina Miss India|Femina Miss India International]] in 1993.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/pooja-batras-miss-india-memories-a-throwback-to-what-made-1993-special-2362789|title=Pooja Batra's Miss India Memories - A Throwback To What Made 1993 Special}}</ref>

==Early life and background==
Batra was born on 27 October 1975<ref>{{cite news |title=Happy birthday Pooja Batra: How Virasat actor found love with Nawab Shah |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/happy-birthday-pooja-batra-how-virasat-actor-found-love-with-nawab-shah/story-Qn2ymoVOmlTD5HUXwSz5jL.html |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=Hindustan Times |date=27 October 2020}}</ref> to Ravi Batra, an army coloneln<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tiwari|first1=Nimisha|title=What's Pooja Batra doing in Mumbai!|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Whats-Pooja-Batra-doing-in-Mumbai/articleshow/4885067.cms|website=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=1 May 2016|date=13 August 2009}}</ref> and Neelam Batra, a [[Femina Miss India|Miss India]] (1971) participant.<ref name="rediff">{{cite web|title='I'm not his ex, Akshay Kumar is my ex'|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/jun/25pooja1.htm|website=[[Rediff]]|access-date=1 May 2016|date=25 June 1997}}</ref> She lived in [[Ludhiana]] with her extended family while she was young.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/global/pooja-batra-makes-heads-turn-in-action-thriller-killer-punjabi/article_129e6124-e49e-11e5-9a6a-77a6da943d2e.html|title=Pooja Batra Makes Heads Turn in Action Thriller 'Killer Punjabi': Watch Trailer|first=Divya|last=Vashisht-Kumar|work=India-West|date=7 March 2016|access-date=17 July 2016}}</ref> While in school, she was an athlete and competed in the 200 and 400-meter dash.<ref name="rediff"/> She is related to Second Lieutenant [[Arun Khetarpal]].<ref>{{cite web |title=I never really toot the horn about my family or my lineage but this I gotta.. So proud to be related to #shaheed #secondlieutenant #arunkhetarpal #pvc #posthumous #aka The bravest officer of the Indian Army. #mydadscousin #battlefieldofbasantar #indopakwar71 As someone once said 'Wars are created by politicians, compounded by bureaucrats and fought by soldiers.' |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B5CFZZhhASF/ |website=Instagram |access-date=14 April 2021}}</ref>

She graduated in Economics<ref name="Roshni">{{cite web|title="To those interested in entering the entertainment world: believe in yourself, have the chops, and be ready to work hard."—Pooja Batra|url=http://roshnimedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Ambassadors_9.pdf|publisher=Roshni Media Group|access-date=1 May 2016}}</ref> from Fergusson College, Pune<ref name="bio">{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.poojabatra.com/biography.html|website=Poojabatra.com|access-date=1 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="rediff"/> and holds an [[MBA]] in marketing<ref name="Roshni"/> from [[Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies|Symbiosis]], Pune.<ref name="bio"/> She has two brothers.<ref name="Roshni"/> She participated at the [[Miss International]] in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|title=Miss Indias who made it to Bollywood|url=http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/beauty-pageants/miss-india/miss-indias-who-made-it-to-bollywood/50-Years-of-Miss-India-Miss-Indias-who-made-it-to-7Bollywood/articleshow/19092168.cms|website=The Times of India|access-date=1 May 2016}}</ref>

==Career==
At a young age, she started modelling as a part-time job. She was best known for her [[Liril]] soap commercial.<ref>{{cite web|title=40 Years Ago and now: The Liril Girl showed how to target a state of mind|url=http://www.rediff.com/money/special/special-40-years-ago-and-now-the-liril-girl-showed-how-to-target-a-state-of-mind/20141016.htm|website=[[Rediff]]|access-date=1 May 2016|date=16 October 2014}}</ref> She was the first Indian face to launch and be a spokesperson for Head and Shoulders in India. She has participated in over 250 modeling events and ad campaigns. She shot to fame when she was crowned [[Femina Miss India|Miss India]] International in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pooja Batra – 2000-1991! – Miss India Winners 2009-1964 – Archives – Femina Miss India|url=http://feminamissindia.indiatimes.com/archives/miss-india-winners-2009-1964/2000-1991/Pooja-Batra/articleshow/7883180.cms|publisher=[[Indiatimes]]|access-date=11 July 2011}}</ref> She went on to become one of the top models in India. She walked the ramp for over 250 fashion shows in India and overseas.<ref name="bio"/> She is an ambassador for Parag Sarees.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Srinivasan|first1=V S|title=Beguiling babe|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1998/mar/18sh.htm|website=[[Rediff]]|access-date=1 May 2016|date=18 March 1997}}</ref>

Batra turned down many offers to complete her education before signing a contract with the Virasat Film Studio. The first film she signed was ''[[Virasat (1997 film)|Virasat]]'' in 1997 followed by another hit movie ''[[Bhai (1997 film)|Bhai]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Good show|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/model-turned-actress-pooja-batra-receives-positive-reviews-for-her-debut-film-virasat/1/275873.html|website=India Today|access-date=1 May 2016|date=31 May 1997}}</ref> She went on to work in over 20 films including ''[[Haseena Maan Jayegi]]'', ''[[Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (2001 film)|Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya]]'' and ''[[Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000 film)|Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye]]''. One of her films, ''[[Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story]]'', a historical epic, was shown at the [[Cannes Film Festival|Cannes film festival]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ruhani|first1=Faheem|title=Mughal premiere for 'Taj Mahal' in London|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-mughal-premiere-for-taj-mahal-in-london-1504|website=DNA|access-date=1 May 2016|date=9 September 2005}}</ref> She is a life member of International Film And Television Club of [[Asian Academy of Film & Television]], Noida.

Batra has also appeared in South Indian films, including three [[Malayalam]] films<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gupta|first1=Rakhee|title=Pooja Batra: Back to Bollywood|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010118/main7.htm|website=The Tribune|access-date=1 May 2016|date=18 January 2001}}</ref> and two [[Tamil film]]s, including a cameo in the 1995 film ''[[Aasai]]''.

Batra has acted in theater and toured North America, which earned her considerable acclaim.

She appeared at the 2009 Academy Awards in Los Angeles, where she reunited with her ''Virasat'' costar, [[Anil Kapoor]].

She is set to appear as Nandini Rajput in the upcoming movie [[Squad (2020)|Squad]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Pooja Batra''s film ''Draupadi Unleashed'' to release theatrically in US|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/pooja-batras-film-draupadi-unleashed-to-release-theatrically-in-us/1941264|access-date=9 February 2021|work=Outlook|date=23 September 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Batra was married to orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Sonu S. Ahluwalia in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] from 2002 to 2010.<ref name="rmr">{{cite web|title=A Healthy Mantra – Pooja Batra|url=http://www.rmrmedia.com/blog/2009/01/a-healthy-mantra-pooja-batra/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318003834/http://www.rmrmedia.com/blog/2009/01/a-healthy-mantra-pooja-batra/|archive-date=18 March 2009|date=10 January 2009|access-date=1 May 2016}}</ref> In January 2011 she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pooja Batra wants out|url=http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2011/jan/280111-Dr-Sonu-Ahluwalia-Pooja-Batra-divorce-Los-Angeles.htm|publisher=Mid-Day|access-date=28 January 2011|date=28 January 2011}}</ref>

Batra revealed her relationship with actor [[Nawab Shah (actor)|Nawab Shah]] in June 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pooja Batra finds her soulmate in Tiger Zinda Hai actor Nawab Shah. See their pics here |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/pooja-batra-finds-her-soulmate-in-tiger-zinda-hai-actor-nawab-shah-see-their-pics-here/story-Mt68qqdl7ATsVq7UIB5DzJ.html |access-date=19 June 2019 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=19 June 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Actors Pooja Batra and Nawab Shah find soulmates in each other! See photos |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-actors-pooja-batra-and-nawab-shah-find-soulmates-in-each-other-see-photos-2762613 |access-date=19 June 2019 |work=[[DNA India]] |date=19 June 2019 }}</ref> They got married on 4 July 2019 in [[Delhi]] according to [[Arya Samaj]] traditions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pooja Batra confirms marrying Nawab Shah: 'He is the man I want to spend rest of my life with'. See pics |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/pooja-batra-confirms-marrying-nawab-shah-he-is-the-man-i-want-to-spend-rest-of-my-life-with-see-pics/story-iUSBlqgcSIYyToJFXtnbQJ.html |access-date=15 July 2019 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=15 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Pooja Batra on marriage with Nawab Shah: He was ready to propose to me right after we met |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/pooja-batra-on-marriage-with-nawab-shah-he-was-ready-to-propose-to-me-right-after-we-met-1569127-2019-07-15 |access-date=15 July 2019 |work=[[India Today]] |date=15 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==
Batra has volunteered time and money to charitable causes including AIDS (Mukti Foundation),<ref>{{Cite web | title = Mukti foundation AIDS concert | last = Verma | first = Sukanya | work = Rediff.com | date = 15 December 2000 | access-date = 28 August 2016 | url = http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2000/dec/15slide7.htm}}</ref> homeless children, the Bombay Police Department and injured soldiers in the Kashmir war.

She did pro bono work in the film ''My Little Devil'' (''Bas Yari Rakho''), subtitled in Hindi, English, and French, to raise funds for the poor children in India. The film was co-produced by NFDC-La Fete (Canada) and directed by Gopi Desai. It was screened at the 24th Annual Montreal World Film Festival, 2000; [[Chicago International Children's Film Festival]], 2000; 10th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival of World Cinema, 2001; and the Indian Film Festival in Malaysia, 2005.

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Role
! Language
|-
| rowspan="2"|1995
| ''[[Aasai]]''
| [[Guest appearance]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|-
| ''[[Sisindri]]''
| Herself
| [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|-
| rowspan="4"|1997
| ''[[Vishwavidhaata]]''
| Poonam
| [[Hindi]]
|-
| ''[[Virasat (1997 film)|Virasat]]''
| Anita
| Hindi
|-
| ''[[Bhai (1997 film)|Bhai]]''
| Pooja
| Hindi
|-
| ''[[Chandralekha (1997 film)|Chandralekha]]''
| Lekha
| [[Malayalam]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|1998
| ''[[Sham Ghansham]]''
| Roopa
| Hindi
|-
| ''[[Saazish (1998 film)|Saazish]]''
| Rachel
| Hindi
|-
| ''Greeku Veerudu''
|Sirisha
| Telugu
|-
| rowspan="3"|1999
| ''[[Megham]]''
| Swati
| Malayalam
|-
| ''[[Oruvan (1999 film)|Oruvan]]''
| Kalpana
| Tamil
|-
| ''[[Haseena Maan Jaayegi]]''
| Pooja Verma
| Hindi
|-
| rowspan="4"|2000
| ''Bas Yaari Rakho''
| Pratibha
| Hindi
|-
| ''[[Daivathinte Makan]]''
| Sonia
| Malayalam
|-
| ''[[Kandukondain Kandukondain]]''
| Nandhini Varma
| Tamil
|-
| ''[[Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye (2000 film)|Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye]]''
| Mona
| Hindi
|-
| rowspan="6"|2001
| ''[[Ittefaq (2001 film)|Ittefaq]]''
| Roshni Hiranandani
| Hindi
|-
| ''[[Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (2001 film)|Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya]]''
| Sonia Chopra
| Hindi
|-
| ''[[Farz (2001 film)|Farz]]''
| Seductress
| Hindi
|-
| ''[[Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi]]''
| Savitri
| Hindi
|-
| ''[[Jodi No.1]]''
| Casino dancer
| Hindi
|-
| ''[[Nayak: The Real Hero]]''
| Laila
| Hindi
|-
| rowspan="2"|2003
| ''[[Talaash: The Hunt Begins]]''
| Kamini
| Hindi
|-
| ''[[Parwana (2003 film)|Parwana]]''
| Parwana's associate
| Hindi
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story]]''
| Noor Jahan
| Hindi
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Hum Tum Shabana]]''
| Puja
| Hindi
|-
| 2015
| ''[[ABCD 2]]''
| Pooja Kohli
| Hindi
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Killer Punjabi]]'' <ref>{{cite web|title=Pooja Batra makes debut in Punjabi films|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/pooja-batra-makes-debut-in-punjabi-films/|website=[[The Indian Express]]|publisher=Press Trust of India|access-date=1 May 2016|date=29 April 2015}}</ref>
|Rita Walia
|Punjabi
|-
|2017
|''One Under the Sun''
|Kathryn Voss
|English
|-
|2017
|''[[Mirror Game]]''
|Shonali
|Hindi
|}

===Malayalam ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
2001

2002

2003

2013
! Title
Chandhralekha

Megham

Daivathinte Makan

Black
! Role
Lekha

Mrs.Swathy

Sonia

Meenakshi
! Co.Star
Mohanlal

Mammootty

Jayaram

Mammootty

|-
| 2015 || August 15<ref>{{cite news |title=Pooja Batra signs up for American TV show 'Lethal Weapon' |url=https://scroll.in/reel/848650/pooja-batra-signs-up-for-american-tv-show-lethal-weapon |access-date=7 October 2020 |work=Scroll.in |date=27 August 2017}}</ref> || Mrs.Devi Perumal || Mammootty
|-
| || <ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaiwala |first1=Alifiya |title=US Elections 2020: Actor Pooja Batra heads out to vote, posts stunning selfie |url=https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/us-elections-2020-actor-pooja-batra-heads-out-to-vote-posts-stunning-selfie.html |access-date=12 January 2021 |work=Republic World |date=5 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref> || ||
|-
| 2017
| ''[[The Rookie (TV series)|Karmayodha]]'' || Radhika Madhava Menon || Mohanlal
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+List of acting awards and nominations
|-
! width=5%|Year
! width=20%|Film
! width=30%|Award
! width=29%|Category
! width=15%|Result
|-
| rowspan="5"|1998
| rowspan="5"|''[[Virasat (1997 film)|Virasat]]''
| rowspan='2"|[[Filmfare Award]]
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut|Best Female Debut]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Screen Awards]]
| Best Supporting Actress
| {{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Zee Cine Awards]]
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut|Best Female Debut]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Female|Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Female]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story]]''
| [[Screen Awards]]
| [[Best Actress]]
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.poojabatra.com}}
* {{IMDb name|0061223}}
* {{Bollywood Hungama person|pooja-batra}}

{{Miss International 1993 delegates}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Batra, Pooja}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American actresses of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Femina Miss India winners]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:People from Faizabad]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Actresses from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Miss International 1993 delegates]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Kendriya Vidyalaya alumni]]
[[Category:Savitribai Phule Pune University alumni]]
[[Category:American female models of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Actresses from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Female models from Uttar Pradesh]]

Pooja Batra - Revision history

>XRedParrot: Adding reference