After gracing the ramps for quite a while Miss India Pooja Batra wanted to extend her horizons a bit more. She considered the various film offers from producers. 

This decision seemed to be right because not only is Pooja good-looking and glamorous, she is also talented, as we have seen her in films like Bhai, Haseena Maan Jaayegi and Viraasat. 

Pooja Batra majored in Economics at the Fergusson College. Pooja turned down many offers before signing a contract with the Virasat Film Studio. She was the first Indian face to market a dandruff shampoo. 

She sought to fame when she was crowned Miss. India in 1993. She went on to become one of the top supermodels in India. She walked the ramp for over 250 fashion shows in India and overseas. She is an ambassador for Parag Sarees. 

She has played the lead role in over 20 movies, including "Taj Mahal", a historical epic that was shown at the Cannes film festival in 2004. As a model she has participated in over 250 events and ad campaigns. 

Pooja turned down many offers to complete her education before signing a contract with the Virasat Film Studio. She is the life member of International Film And Television Club of Asian Academy Of Film & Television, Noida.In 1995 she did a cameo in a Tamil film called Aasai. 

The first film she signed was Virasat in 1997. She worked in over 21 films including Haseena Maan Jayegi, Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya and Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye. 

She is very tall, standing at almost 5'11 inches being taller than most bollywood actors, for example: Hrithik, Anil, Akshay khanna, Sunil and slightly shorter in flats than Akshaye Kumar and John Abraham. 

Pooja Batra worked in Malayalam films, majority of them being with Megastars Mohanlal and Mamootty. She also did two Tamil films. She also did theatre and toured North America which got her considerable acclaim. 

She has volunteered time and money to charitable causes including AIDS (Mukti Foundation), Homeless children, the Bombay Police Department and injured soldiers in the Kashmir war. 

She did pro bono work in the film My Little Devil (Bas Yari Rakho) subtitled in Hindi, English and French to raise funds for the poor children in India. The film was co-produced by NFDC-La Fete (Canada) and directed by Gopi Desai. The film was screened at the 24th Annual Montreal World Film Festival, 2000; Chicago International Children's Film Festival, 2000; 10th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival of World Cinema, 2001 and the Indian Film Festival in Malaysia, 2005. 

Awards and Nominations: 

1997 - Best Supporting Actress win for Virasat 
1997 - Most Promising Newcomer nomination for Virasat 
2006 - Best Actress nomination for Taj Mahal-An Eternal Love Story 

Name : Pooja Batra 
Date of Birth : October 27, 1976 
Birth of Place : New Delhi, India 
Height : 5' 11 inches 
Nationality : Indian 
Profession : Actress 
Education : Majored in Economics at the Fergusson College. 
Mother : Neelam Batra (Participant Miss India 1971) 
Father : Colonel Batra 
Spouse : Dr. Sonu Ahluwalia (orthopedic surgeon) 
Debut Film : Virasat (1997) Hindi 
Claim to Fame : Miss India 1993