Vivacious, beautiful, bubbly and cheerful: these three words sum up the effervescent Juhi Chawla. The Bollywood beauty turns 40 on November 13 and we look at her B-town journey through the years.
Juhi made a splash by winning the Miss India title in 1984 at the tender age of 17. Sultanat in 1986 was her debut film, but the legendary romantic film Qayamat se Qayamat Tak is considered her real debut as it thrust her and debutante Aamir Khan to superstardom. A few less successful films followed to make way for her special appearance in Chandni which was a big hit.
1992 was a special year for her as it paired her opposite SRK in Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. Director Aziz Mirza and actors SRK and Juhi Chawla developed a special friendship which would later expand into a business partnership. And Aziz doesn’t make a movie without SRK or Juhi Chawla (Juhi played the adorable and colourful hippie crystal ball reader Haseena Bano Jaan and SRK did the narration in Kismat Konnection) Juhi also starred in the successful Bol Radha Bol alongside Rishi Kapoor that year.
The popular pairing of SRK and Juhi sparkled once again in Darr, so what if SRK was the villain.
Juhi won her first Filmfare Award for her spirited performance opposite Aamir Khan in Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke and she also won accolades for her girl-next door avatar in Aaina.
Following Aaina, Juhi’s memorable movies include Daraar and Yes Boss. The latter paired her with her favourite co-star SRK and her movie with Aamir Khan, comic-caper Ishq was a blockbuster as well.
2000 saw Juhi set up her own production house in partnership with Aziz Mirza and Shah Rukh Khan. Their first film, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani did not do well. One 2 ka 4 didn’t sparkle as well but Juhi was brilliant as the loud, talkative and bhajan mouthing nanny cum slick undercover cop.
Juhi’s restrained performances in 3 Deewarein and Jhankaar Beats won her accolades and the latter also became a sleeper hit. Her sensitive performance in My Brother Nikhil is considered the finest of her career.
Juhi was recently seen in supporting roles in Salaam-e-ishq, Krazzy 4, Bhootnath and Kismat Konnection.
Juhi has always been known as a spontaneous and lively actress. Her million watt smile can melt hearts and how. Juhi was never slim but she was popular solely on the basis of her acting, her pretty face and her real, warm persona and effortless charm. She has been compared with Hema Malini and Sridevi for her fantastic comic timing. Such was her talent!
She married industrialist Jay Mehta in 1997 and her daughter Jhanvi was born in 2001 followed by baby boy Arjun in 2003.
She and hubby Jay are co-owners of the Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders along with buddy Shah Rukh Khan. The mother of two also has a few endorsements up her sleeve: Leher Kurkure and Dena Bank and will be seen in Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance next.
We wish Bollywood’s most adorable actress A very Happy Birthday and many more joyful, loving years to come.
