Aishwarya Rai Took A Dig At Sushmita Sen Post Miss India, Said She 'Looked For Fame, Money': 'I've Had Always These'

News18

24-04-2025

Aishwarya Rai lost the Miss India 1994 pageant to Sushmita Sen.
Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen started their journeys together in the pageant world and were competitors in the 1994 Miss India pageant. While Sushmita Sen won the title, Aishwarya Rai was the first runner-up. Sushmita Sen made her Bollywood debut in the 1996 film Dastak, and Aishwarya in the 1997's Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. Back then, the actresses were often pitted against each other, and there was also a rumoured rivalry brewing. The speculations were fueled after Aishwarya's comment about Sushmita in an interview with Movie Magazine.
In a 1997 interview with the publication, Aishwarya commented on Sushmita's Miss India win. She said, 'Probably Sushmita always looked for fame, glamour, and money. For her, it was an all-time high to become famous. But I've always had these things, so it didn't make any difference." Netizens recently dug up Aishwarya's statement, and it has gone viral on Reddit.
However, actress Maninee De, who was also a top 10 finalist in the Miss India contest of 1994, debunked these rivalry rumours last year. During an interview with Siddharth Kanan, she emphasised that there was no genuine animosity between the two actresses and that they conducted themselves with dignity, especially considering their young age at the time.
She said, 'To my knowledge, there was no rivalry at all. This was media created because Sushmita was the underdog. When we went from Delhi, we were told Aishwarya was a model for a popular soap brand, so what would we even do there? But there was nothing like that, especially from what I have witnessed."
Not many know that Sushmita Sen's victory in the pageant was a result of the tie-breaker round. Aishwarya Rai was asked a unique question that left the audience and judges curious. She was asked to choose a better husband between two iconic television characters, Ridge Forrester from 'The Bold & Beautiful' and Mason Capwell from 'Santa Barbara'. Aishwarya's response was a surprise to many as she chose Mason, stating that he had a caring side and a great sense of humour, qualities that matched her personality.
On the other hand, Sushmita Sen was asked about the textile heritage of the country and her personal preferences in clothing. In her answer, she credited Mahatma Gandhi's promotion of khadi as the start of India's textile legacy.
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