As former Miss Universe Lara Dutta celebrates her birthday today, we take a look at her life in pics...
New mommy and former Miss Universe Lara Dutta turns a year older today. The actress, who has taken a sabbatical post the birth of her daughter Saira, is enjoying her break but says she is raring to hit the screen.
Accepting her birthday wishes, Lara tweeted: "Up early(yup, on the b'day too!) And overwhelmed by the sheer number of msgs that are already in!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Love."
Lara was recently spotted at the L'Oreal Paris Femina Women Awards in Mumbai in March this year. And we must say she looked gorgeous in a golden sari.
She continues to step out for various parties and was last spotted at the reception of Honey Bhagnani and Dheeraj Deshmukh, who is the brother of Riteish Deshmukh.
The actress is trying to drop the baby weight post haste. She recently tweeted: "Had a super yoga class and passed out at the end! Kudos to my teacher Tonias super relaxing techniques! :-)."
The pretty actress didn't go into hiding during her pregnancy but happily took her baby bump everywhere she went, including the Don 2 screening and at Chivas studio last year.
Lara's sister also threw a baby shower for the mom-to-be.
Lara Dutta gave birth to her daughter Saira on January 20 this year. This is Lara and Mahesh Bhupathi's first baby.
Lara tied the knot with tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi in February 2011.
Her latest release was SRK, Priyanka Chopra starrer Don 2.
Coming Up: Lara's life in pics.
Lara was born in a Punjabi family in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Her father LK Dutta is a retired Wing Commander and her mother is Jennifer Dutta.
She also has two elder sisters, one of whom serves in the Indian Air Force. Famed composer and DJ Nitin Sawhney is Lara's cousin. The Dutta family moved to Bangalore in 1981 where she completed high school from St.Francis Xavier Girls' High School. Lara graduated in economics with a minor in communications from University of Mumbai.
Lara famously dated fellow model Kelly Dorjee for eight years. Thay were in a serious relationship when she won the Miss Universe title, and continued to live together for the next few years as she forged a film career, breaking up in 2007.
After breaking up with Kelly, Lara dated model turned actor Dino Morea for a year.
Lara won the annual Gladrags modeling competition and then became the first Indian representative at the 1997 Miss Intercontinental and won it.
In 2000 she was crowned Femina Miss India Universe.
At Miss Universe 2000 in Cyprus, Dutta was the clear favourite ahead of fierce competition from Venezuela, Spain, USA and Canada.
She achieved the highest score in the swimsuit competition and her finalist interview score was the highest individual score in any category in the history of the Miss Universe contest, as her perfect interview saw a majority of the judges giving her the maximum 9.99 mark.
After her final question, in which Lara delivered a passionate defense of the Miss Universe contest (and other beauty pageants), she became the second Indian Miss Universe.
Lara signed up for her first film, the Tamil Arasatchi but it only released in mid 2004 because of money problems.
She made her Hindi debut in 2003 with Andaaz, which was a box office success and won her the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award.
She then appeared in a number of films, some of which failed at the box office and some of which were mildly successful. Her box office hits include Masti (2004), Kaal (2005), No Entry (2005) and Partner (2007).
In 2006, she starred in the comedy, Bhaagam Bhaag opposite Govinda and Akshay Kumar which did well at the box office.
Lara's first release of 2007 was Shaad Ali's Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. The film was a box office failure in India but did better overseas, especially in the U.K.
Her later release that year, Partner opened to a good response and became a hit.
A de-glam Lara appeared as Irrfan Khan's wife in Billu.
Next came Blue in 2009, opposite Akshay Kumar. The movie tanked but Lara's bikini body was much appreciated
Lara was paired opposite her Partner co-star Govinda in Do Knot Disturb but the movie was a dud at the BO.
Lara was next seen in hit comedy film Housefull opposite Riteish Deshmukh.
The actress is reading scripts but hasn't finalised anything yet, here's wishing her a very happy birthday and a great career ahead.
