Pooja Batra was born to Ravi Batra, an army colonel who was wounded in the 1971 war between
. Her mother, Neelam Batra was a former
participant in 1971. She did her schooling at
, where she enjoyed sports, debates and plays. She was a good athlete who competed in the 200 and 400 meter dash.
She majored in Economics at the Fergusson College, Pune. She also attained her MBA in marketing from
, Pune. She has two brothers who are twins.
At a young age, she started modeling as a part-time job. She was best known for her Liril soap commercial. She was the first Indian face to launch and be a spokesperson for Head and Shoulders in India. As a model she has participated in over 250 events and ad campaigns. She shot to fame when she was crowned
Asia-Pacific in 1993. 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. She is an ambassador for Parag Sarees.
She has played the lead role in over 20 films. One of her films,
, a historical epic, was shown at the Cannes film festival in 2004. Pooja turned down many offers to complete her education before signing a contract with the Virasat Film Studio. She is the life member of International Film And Television Club of
, Noida. In 1995 she did a cameo in a Tamil film called
in 1997. She worked in over 21 films including
. She did two Tamil films. She acted in theater and toured North America, which got her considerable acclaim. She recently appeared at the 2009 Academy Awards in Los Angeles, where she reunited with her
Batra was married to orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Sonu Ahluwalia, in
between 2002 and 2010. In January 2011, she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
Batra has volunteered time and money to charitable causes including AIDS (Mukti Foundation), homeless children, the Bombay Police Department and injured soldiers in the Kashmir war.
) 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. The film 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.
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Language |
| 1995 |
Aasai Aasai is a 1995 Tamil film directed by Vasanth and produced by Mani Ratnam The film featured Ajith Kumar and Suvalakshmi, making her debut, in the leading roles with Prakash Raj in a pivotal role. The film has camera work by Jeeva and a popular soundtrack by Deva...
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Guest appearance In show business , a guest appearance is a participation of an outsider performer , usually called guest artist , in an event , i.e., the participation of a performer which does not belong to the regular crew In performance...
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Tamil Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
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Sisindri Sisindri is a 1995 Telugu comedy / family film directed by Shiva Nageswara Rao. It is a remake of Hollywood flick Baby's Day Out . Akhil Akkineni made his debut through this film. The cast includes Nagarjuna Akkineni, Giribabu, Tanikella Bharani, Sudhakar, Aamani, Sarath Babu, Subhalekha Sudhakar...
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Telugu |
| 1997 |
Vishwavidhaata -Soundtrack:All songs were composed by A. R. Rahman. He reused the songs of the original film Pudhiya Mugam with a new song Humdum Pyaara Pyaara added. The lyrics were written by P. K. Mishra and Mehboob for Humdum Pyaara Pyaara....
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Poonam |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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Virasat Virasat is a Hindi musical drama film by Priyadarshan that was released in India in 1997. It starred Anil Kapoor, Tabu, Amrish Puri, Pooja Batra, Milind Gunaji and Govind Namdeo. The story was by Kamal Hassan and Anu Malik was the music composer...
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Anita |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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Bhai |
Pooja |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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Chandralekha Chandralekha is a 1997 Malayalam film written and directed by Priyadarshan and produced by Fazil. Audiences were ecstatic on seeing the energetic performance of Mohanlal and counted this as his comeback film. This also brought back the old successful combo of Mohanlal and Sreenivasan, which was...
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Lekha |
Malayalam |
| 1998 |
Sham Ghansham |
Roopa |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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Greeku Veerudu |
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Telugu |
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Saazish Saazish is a 1998 Hindi-language Indian feature film directed by Sudhir R Nair, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Pooja Batra, Helen, Aruna Irani, Vikas Bhalla, Ishrat Ali and Kashmira Shah-Plot:...
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HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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| 1999 |
Megham Megham is a 1999 Malayalam musical comedy film directed by Priyadarshan, starring Mammootty, Priya Gill, Dileep, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Pooja Batra, Sreenivasan, Nedumudi Venu, Captain Raju, and Cochin Haneefa. The music was composed by Ouseppachan...
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Col. Thampuran's wife, swati |
Malayalam |
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Oruvan Oruvan is a 1999 Tamil language film directed by Suresh Krishna. The film features Sarathkumar and Pooja Batra in lead roles whilst Devayani, Raghuvaran and Anandaraj play supporting roles.-Cast:*Sarathkumar as Surya*Pooja Batra as Kalpana...
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Kalpana |
Tamil Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
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Haseena Maan Jaayegi Haseena Maan Jaayegi is a 1999 Indian Bollywood film, starring Govinda, Sanjay Dutt, Karishma Kapoor, Pooja Batra, Anupam Kher, Kader Khan, Aruna Irani and Paresh Rawal. It was directed by David Dhawan.-Plot:...
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Pooja Verma |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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| 2000 |
Bas Yaari Rakho |
Pratibha |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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Daivathinte Makan |
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Malayalam |
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Kandukondain Kandukondain Kandukondain Kandukondain is a 2000 Tamil musical and romantic film based on Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility. Directed and co-written by Rajiv Menon, the film features an ensemble cast of Ajith Kumar, Mammootty, Tabu, Aishwarya Rai and Abbas in the lead roles...
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Nandini |
Tamil Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
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Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye |
Mona |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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| 2001 |
IttefaqThe Daily Ittefaq is a daily newspaper which is one of the most published and circulated newspaper published from Bangladesh. This newspaper printed in Bengali by Ittefaq Group of Publications Limited...
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Roshni Hiranandani |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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Dil Ne Phir Yaad KiyaDil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya is a 1966 Bollywood film. It stars Dharmendra, Nutan, Rehman and Jeevan. The music is by Sonik Omi.-Plot:The story of the eternal friendship between two men, 'Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya' is a musical classic. Ashok and Amjad are thick friends. This movie showcases their immense...
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Sonia Chopra |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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Farz Farz is a word of Persian origin, also used in Urdu and Hindi, meaning one's duty.- Hindi Films :Farz is also the title of three Indian Hindi movies:* Farz , starring Agha...
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Seductress |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi is a 2001 Indian film directed by Rahul Rawail and starring Kajol in a double role as two estranged identical twins. The storyline follows the general theme of its Hollywood counterpart The Parent Trap, but with the added melodrama and slight-changed storyline of a...
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Savitri |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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Jodi No.1 Jodi No.1 is a 2001 Bollywood crime comedy film directed by David Dhawan and starring Govinda and Sanjay Dutt along with Shakti Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Monica Bedi and Twinkle Khanna.-Plot:...
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Casino Dancer |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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Nayak: The Real Hero Nayak: The Real Hero is a 2001 Indian movie starring Anil Kapoor and Rani Mukerji. It was directed by S. Shankar. The film is a remake of S. Shankar's earlier released Tamil film Mudhalvan . The film's score and soundtrack, composed by A. R. Rahman, were dubbed from Mudhalvan into Hindi for the...
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Laila |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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| 2003 |
Talaash: The Hunt Begins |
Kamini |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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Parwana Parwana is a 2003 Bollywood drama film directed by Deepak Bahry. The film stars Ajay Devgan as an orphan and Amisha Patel.Summary='PARWANA' is a story of an orphan - who lives in a basti. He has one mission to help the poor people of basti - for that he does odd jobs without harming any body...
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Parwana's associate |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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| 2005 |
Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story |
Noor Jahan |
HindiBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
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