Sushmita Sen’s Emotional Moment at Miss India 1994, Says Prahlad Kakkar

In a recent interview, ad director Prahlad Kakkar revealed a poignant memory from the 1994 Miss India pageant, during which Sushmita Sen was observed "crying profusely." She felt that the pageant was rigged to favor Aishwarya Rai, another contestant.

Prahlad recounted, “One day, halfway through the contest, Sushmita sat sobbing in a corner of the dressing room. Although I was affiliated with a rival team, I approached her. She stated, ‘It’s all fixed. It’s rigged. We’re lost here.’ She was convinced that Aishwarya, as a more prominent model, would claim victory.”

He encouraged her to have faith in the judging system, particularly trusting Simone Tata’s influence. The competition eventually included an additional question-and-answer segment. Prahlad remarked, “Sushmita’s response was significantly more assured and polished than Aishwarya’s, leading her to win that critical round. It was a close call. What a remarkable time it was.”

Despite her accolades, Prahlad noted Sushmita developed a skepticism towards the film industry. “She became hard to reach and built barriers around herself. Her lack of trust stemmed from her views on the exploitative nature of the industry. For a single, striking woman, a career can be precarious, and she made sure to shield herself,” he shared.

Sushmita Sen was crowned Miss India 1994, with Aishwarya taking the 1st runner-up spot, and she later won Miss Universe. She made her film debut with Dastak (1996) and has appeared in blockbuster films like Biwi No.1 (1999), Sirf Tum (1999), Filhaal (2002), Aankhen (2002), Main Hoon Na (2004), and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005). After a break, she made a notable return with the drama series Aarya (2020).