Namrata Shirodkar celebrates her 50th birthday on Saturday, she was married to an actor Mahesh Babu and has two children Gautham and Sitara. Namrata was considered a popular face of Bollywood even before entering into showbiz by winning the 1993 Miss India Pageant.
The old video from the final ceremony of the Miss India Pageant shows how Namrata competed against Pooja Batra her fellow contestant who also appeared in films later. In 1993 Miss India Pageant Namrata had worn a silver gown with her short hair styled in a big bob. Pooja, on the other hand, was dressed in a red strapless gown and her hair styled in a bun.
Archana Puran Singh hosted the show and she was the one to reveal the final question of the final round of the pageant. The participants had to answer, “Who came first, the chicken or the egg?” While Namrata and a third finalist Karminder chose chicken, Pooja got a bit fetish and said, “Who cares? As long as they are both useful.”
After hearing the answers the judges selected a winner, Pooja was announced the second runner-up and Namrata arose as the winner the Star Wars theme was playing in the background.
After the ceremony, Archana inquired Namrata about her plans for the future. “I feel great, I don’t know how to react. I just feel overwhelmed… First of all, I will groom myself better to attend the Miss Universe contest in Mexico. Then I will put myself to some use for my country,” Namrata said.
The sixth spot was taken by Namrata in the Miss Universe pageant as she debuted with Salman Khan and Twinkle Khanna’s Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai in 1998. Namrata was also featured in films such as Vaastav, Kachche Dhaage and Gurinder Chadda’s Bride and Prejudice alongside Aishwarya Rai, She has not starred in a film since.
