Lara Dutta was born on April 16, 1978 in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Her father LK Dutta is former Indian Air Force Wing Commander, and mother Jennifer Dutta is an Anglo-Indian, who was crowned Miss Madras in 1967. Lara Dutta's elder sister Sabrina and younger sister Cheryl both used to serve in the Indian Air Force. (All photos/Lara Dutta's Instagram account)

Pictured: Lara had shared this picture of her parents on their 50th wedding anniversary. "50 years together!!! What a blessing to be able to share this day with my parents!!," captioned Lara.

After winning the Miss Universe crown in 2000, Lara Dutta paved her way in Bollywood with Andaaz, also starring Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra. Few of her popular Bollywood films are Masti (2004), Kaal (2005), No Entry (2005), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Partner (2007), Billu (2009), Housefull (2010), Chalo Dilli (2011), Don 2 (2011) and Singh Is Bliing (2015).

Pictured: Lara shared this picture with her sisters, saying, 'I can photoshop and filter my face beyond recognition, I can gloss over, highlight, radiant light my photo, I can kirakira, soft focus, Facetune my face all I want.... bottom line is, happiness, and joy from within in is only found from a life well lived and loved!!!! To quote sister sledge- we are family...... I've got all my sisters with me!!!'

When Lara Dutta's family planned to settle in Bengaluru after her father's retirement, the three daughters (Sabrina, Cherin and Lara) were thrilled to bits, Jennifer Dutta had shared the memory with mid-day once.

Pictured: Lara Dutta with her father Lalit Dutta, while they were at Prithvi Theatre, to watch a play

In 2011, Lara Dutta got married to ace tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi. Lara's mother Jennifer Dutta had once said in an interview, 'We are both very fond of Mahesh, and we meet his parents often since they are also based in Bangalore.'

Lara Dutta and Mahesh Bhupathi have an 8-year-old daughter named Saira. While star kids in today's times get all sorts of media attention, Lara Dutta has kept her daughter Saira away from paparazzi.

Pictured: Lara had shared this picture on Women's Day and wrote - I'm every woman...... it's all in ME!!!! Anything you want done, baby, I'll do it naturally!! Wishing every woman out there- Happy Superheroes Day!!!

A few years ago, she was even miffed at the media for what she terms as an unnecessary glorification of star kids. Lara is of the belief that children of popular celebrities should not be under the constant scrutiny of photographers, with their every move been captured on camera.

Lara Dutta took a break from her acting career after Saira was born. She revealed once that she and husband Mahesh Bhupathi ensured daughter Saira a normal upbringing.

Asked how parenthood has changed her as a person and how prepared she was for it, Lara Dutta was quoted saying, 'I think no mother with their first child is really 100 per cent prepared for parenthood until it happens to you. It is pretty much something that you learn on the go with each day.'

'It doesn't matter if your child is one day old or whether she is 21 years of age. It is constantly evolving and each parent's experience is completely different, but it has been a wonderful ride. My daughter has been literally my life's greatest teacher and she has pushed all the limits as (far as) possible because she is at that age right now. She is pushing it how far it can go before mom erupts, but it is fun and wonderful. Mahesh has been a wonderful and hands-on dad,' she concluded.

Pictured: Lara Dutta spends quality time with her daughter and often takes mini-vacations too. This one's from their recent vacay diary.

Lara Dutta and Mahesh Bhupathi celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary this year in February.

Pictured: Lara Dutta had shared this picture on June 7, 2017. It was a special day, which called for a celebration for the duo. 'Celebrating this incredible man!! 20 yrs to his first grand slam. 07/06/17.The 1st Grandslam for India and his birthday!!,' revealed Lara.

From winning the Miss Universe crown to navigating her way in Bollywood, Lara Dutta Bhupathi has enjoyed various roles in showbiz. She also mentored the candidates of Miss Diva, the winner of which represented India at the Miss Universe pageant in 2018. Lara, who was the second Indian after Sushmita Sen to win the Miss Universe crown.

Pictured: Lara Dutta having a fun time with her close friends and family.

Lara Dutta is known for someone who speaks her mind. In the wake of #MeToo movement in India, she turned down a work offer routed through the casting company of a very popular casting director, who was accused of sexual harassment.

Pictured: A delayed flight, made Lara Dutta and Mahesh Bhupathi spend some time relaxing at the airport during their trip to Delhi.

Lara's husband Mahesh Bhupathi even revealed his actor wife had complained to him that her co-star was being subjected to 'rude, vulgar' behaviour on the sets of by director Sajid Khan. 'When we were dating she was shooting for and we were in London at that time. She would come home and her closest friend was her hairdresser and they both would be complaining about how one of her co-stars was being treated by the director. Rude, vulgar,' Mahesh Bhupathi had said on his wife's behalf.

Pictured: Another cute picture of little Saira with her mommy Lara Dutta. But the caption to the picture was, even more, cuter - 'Daughters negotiating skills go something like this!!'

On the work front, Lara Dutta was last seen in 2018's Welcome To New York, starring Sonakshi Sinha, Diljit Dosanjh, Karan Johar, Rana Daggubati and Riteish Deshmukh. The film failed at the Box Office, however.

Pictured: On January 20, 2018, Lara Dutta had shared this picture with her daughter. It was Saira's birthday. The little one turned 6 this year.

Apart from acting, she is a hands-on mother and wife, and has also ventured into film production. She has hosted various shows and also mentors Miss India contestants. In 2019, Lara Dutta launched her line of beauty products named Arias, which is a vegetarian beauty line.

Here's wishing a very happy birthday to Lara Dutta! As the actress turns a year older, we take a look at some never-seen-before throwback pictures of Lara Dutta from her younger days:

Winner of Femina Miss India 2000 Lara Dutta (C) poses with Priyanka Chopra (L), 1st runner-up, and Dia Mirza, 2nd runner-up during a press conference in a New Delhi hotel on January 17, 2000. Lara Dutta represented India in the Miss Universe competition, while Priyanka Chopra did so in the Miss World competition and Dia Mirza in the Miss Pacific competition.

Miss India Lara Dutta (R) reacts after winning the Miss Universe 2000 title in Nicosia, May 13, 2000, as first-runner-up Miss Venezuela Claudia Moreno looks on. Miss Spain Helen Lindes Griffiths was third.

Miss Universe 2000, India's Lara Dutta dress in Thai silk pose for a photo on the catwalk during the fundraising fashion show for AIDS-patients - August 23, 2000. Dutta was on a weekly-long charity program to raise awareness on HIV-AIDS and other health issues.

Miss India Lara Dutta, 21, models swimwear during the Miss Universe 2000 pageant in Nicosia on May 13, 2000. Miss India won ahead of Miss Venezuela Claudia Moreno, 22, and Miss Spain Helen Lindes Griffiths, 18.

Miss India is crowned Miss Universe 2000 by outgoing title-holder Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana in Nicosia on May 13, 2000.

The last five Miss Universe 2000 delegates, from L to R, Miss Canada Kim Yee, Miss India Lara Dutta, Miss Spain Helen Lindes Griffiths, Miss USA Lynette Cole, and Miss Venezuela Claudia Moreno smile during the Miss Universe 2000 pageant on May 13, 2000.

During the taping of a segment at the Rock of Aphrodite for the 49th Annual Miss Universe Pageant, Lara Dutta, Miss India 2000, poses in her Oscar de la Renta swimwear on April 25, 2000. Delegates from 79 countries were competing for the title of Miss Universe 2000.