Sushmita Sen made history as the first ever Indian Miss Universe in 1994. She was the first among the present crop of Bong babes to enter Bollywood.The title of Miss Universe did not mean that a career in Bollywood was a cakewalk for the tall Bengali actress. She had to struggle hard to carve out an identity in Bollywood.
Her first film ’Dastak’ was a flop. Sushmita’s acting skills were nothing to write home about. For the next couple of years the media linked her to Vikram Bhatt and even went on to say that the couple had secretly tied the knot and were living together. The rumour mills impacted her career adversely.
She made a comeback in Biwi No 1 in which she played the role of Salman’s girlfriend. Sushmita was appreciated by the audiences and they felt for the first time that she could act. She did a number of films such as Zor, Aaghaz, Paisa Vasool, Kyunki Main Jhooth Nahi Bolta etc. She even did a song in Hritik Roshan starrer Fiza.
The turning point in her career was Filhal where she played the role of a surrogate mother. This was the role which demanded a mature performance and depth in acting. She played her part well. This film made the viewers and producers look upon her as an actress of substance.
In the film Aankhen, she did a good job playing the part of a teacher in a blind school who is forced to help Amitabh in his scheme to rob a bank. In ’’Main Hoon Naa’’ she was shown as a chemistry teacher paired opposite SRK. From a critics point of view, however, the role was nothing more than that of a glamour doll.In ’Samay’ , she played the role of a no nonsense ACP Malvika Chauhan very well. This was a film much appreciated by her admirers.
The lady is not short of talent.She has proved it in Filhal, Samay and Aankhen.However still she has not come across those kind of roles which test her talent as an actress.If she has to be remembered alongside actresses like Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil she has to accept roles which lay more emphasis on acting skills rather than glamour. Sush has yet to pass this acid test in her career.
On the personal front she is the mother of an adopted daughter called Renee.Sushmita had said when asked about her daughter that in order to become a mother its not necessary that a woman should marry and give up her career.Sushmita owns businesses in Dubai named after her daughter.I saw a bit of her interview in ’ Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai ’ on Zee TV and it seems she is very attached to her family .The only thing which I personally dislike about her is her smoking habit.
Sushmita’s unique feature is that the lady has an air of ease, friendliness, sincerity and dignity about her.However at present she has some distance to go before she can be called a legend as far as acting is concerned.I am sure, like me her many admirers would like to see her in a role which provides her full scope to display her acting talents.Till then she is only a good actress and not a great actress.
I wish Sushmita all the best for her future films.