She is still best remembered for her role in the action film '16 December'. Born in Assam, Dipannita studied at the Holy Child School Guwahati till the ninth standard and pursued the rest of her academics from St. Mary's School, Naharkatia. She later graduated from Delhi. (All pictures/Dipannita Sharma's Instagram account)

It wouldn't be wrong to say that Dipannita Sharma was one of the most popular models in the '90s. Sharma came into the limelight after making it to the final five of the Femina Miss India 1998 contest. Ever since then, there was no turning back for Dipannita.

Being the 'most photogenic face' in Femina Miss India 1998, Dipannita Sharma started her career in Bollywood with the Milind Soman-starrer 16 December. She was also nominated by Zee Cine Awards and Star Screen Awards for best debut female. The actress played the role of an intelligence officer in the movie, which also starred Danny Denzongpa, Gulshan Grover, Sushant Singh, among others.

Dipannita Sharma has been in the industry for more than 15 years, but the actress has only 13 films to her credit. The last one being Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff-starrer War. Though the actress could never be a part of box office hits, Dipannita is known for her odd choice of roles and characters. Do you remember her in Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl? There she portrayed the role of a businesswoman, who later was conned by Ranveer Singh.

Dipannita has also walked the ramp for renowned designers in the country and for international design houses. She was the worldwide face for a leading brand of watches and jewellery for 5 years. Apart from being the face for some famous accessories, Dipannita has also endorsed several skincare brands in India.

Dipannita Sharma tied the knot with Delhi entrepreneur Dilsher Singh Atwal in 2008, a third-generation businessman, who is into his family business of mining. The duo is still going strong and we can evidently see the much-in-love couple painting the town red on social media platforms.

While we don't see much of Dipannita Sharma on the silver screen, the actress is questioned a lot about her absence and other career options. In an interview back in 2010, Dipannita was asked what she would have preferred being if not an actress, and she had the noblest answer, and we can't deny that!

Dipannita Sharma stated, 'I think, I would have been a teacher or an advertising executive. My mom and many relatives are in the noble profession of teaching. Also, my maternal grandfather was a great teacher. This is a profession I've grown up seeing and understanding. Therefore, it would have been an easier profession to adapt to, though teaching is anything but an easy job.'

'People close to me say that I have a teacher hidden in me somewhere. Or I'd have been in an advertising professional because I had enrolled for a diploma in advertising after my graduation, around the same time that I started modelling,' Dipannita Sharma concluded.

Like any other woman, Dipannita Sharma too loves getting all decked up for events. When asked about her interests other than teaching and acting, Dipannita stated, 'There is nothing more than fashion that I'm passionate about. Even on days when I am just sitting at home, I will always be all dressed.'

Dipannita Sharma's love for fashion has been evident enough. The actress is often seen making public appearances with her on-point fashion game and makeup. She has also walked the ramp for some of the most famous fashion designers.

Time and again, Dipannita is seen voicing her opinions and her thoughts on social media, without any inhibitions. In 2019, Dipannita Sharma stated how appalled she was when Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb raised a question on Diana Hayden's 'beauty'. The actress stated in an interview with IANS that, 'It's quite appalling that such a statement has been made by a respected leader of our country. Every Indian woman is beautiful and anyone who has won the title of Miss World or Miss Universe from India has represented our country in the truest sense. Each one of them deserved the title which is why they won it in the first place.' Good going, girl!

Very few know that Dipannita Sharma has now turned into a fitness blogger. She is often spotted sharing her fitness tips on her social media handle. From eating healthy to feeling healthy, the actress knows it all! and we can surely see it. The actress believes that there are many more ways to be healthy, apart from hitting the gym and dieting.

Dipannita Sharma does not believe in keeping a count on calories. Instead, she prefers indulging in guilty pleasures but in a limited amount. When asked about some alterations one can add in their life, Dipannita told mid-day, 'I don't have a fixed work-out regime. Not being a gym enthusiast, I stick to other more interesting forms of exercise like tai chi, dancing, yoga or swimming. I think it's important to keep changing your fitness regime to keep yourself inspired and be excited about it rather than getting into a monotonous routine.'

The actress doesn't shy away from speaking her mind. Dipannita Sharma loves staying in shape, but it is not about always looking size zero. When asked about the same, the actress added, 'Being in shape is great, but there is always pressure to stay slim -- be it self-imposed or societal. What is important is to handle it in the right spirit and to devise a fun fitness regime, rather than stressing over those tyres around your waist. Trust me, that will totally set you free and make you happy in your own skin.'

She has a basic mantra of her life. For Dipannita, less is more, and we totally get that! 'I believe in eating everything in moderation, so no strict diets for me. I do avoid oily, spicy food as often as I can. I enjoy mostly home-cooked meals, as they're healthier. I like eating desserts and I indulge in them often, though I don't gorge on them. But food is really my weakness. I am a complete foodie -- I like to try different cuisines from different parts of the world. I think the trick is to eat in moderation, have small meals and do not stuff yourself,' says Dipannita.

The pretty lady also has her own cheat days. Dipannita Sharma loves indulging in chocolates, and the actress has a different take on this! 'Chocolates are a lifesaver in this crazy world. Was there ever a world which existed before the invention of chocolates? It helps cure to ailments and disorders both scientifically and psychologically. It can bring you out of depression with its instant sense of self-gratification and feel-good factor,' says Sharma.

Dipannita Sharma's family is her biggest support system, and very few know about her close bond with her sister Arunima. Dipannita's sister Anurima Sharma became famous for her role as Rano in Kasamh Se, along with Prachi Desai.

Dipannita Sharma loves dancing and she finds this as an ultimate stress buster. Her workout sessions also include some cha-cha and jive. Dipannita is also a good friend of the celebrity dancer Sandeep Soparkar.

From being a model to trying her luck in acting, Dipannita has done it all. After so many years of struggle in the world of glamour, the actress finally received a huge compliment from LIFF, Love International Film Festival held in California. Dipannita took home the best actress award for her Assamese film Xhoixobote Dhelamite (Rainbow Fields) in 2018.

Dipannita Sharma was also seen in the anthology drama, Pyaar Actually, by Y-Films. Pyaar Actually had an ensemble cast including Bhumi Pednekar, Riteish Deshmukh, Saqib Salim, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Anya Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Supriya Pilgaonkar, Mandira Bedi and Dipannita Sharma. Pyaar Actually, set in Mumbai, comprised four short stories showcasing relationships at different stages , a dating couple, an about-to-be-married pair, a duo at the cusp of parenthood and a couple who have been married for over 40 years. Dipannita and Riteish Deshmukh were part of the anthology movie that was released on Hotstar.

Dipannita Sharma was last seen in Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff-starrer War. The actress had taken to her Instagram to share her experience working in War and wrote, "Honestly, when I signed on for #war I knew I had a very ‘special appearance’ & I won’t have much screen time but it was a Yash raj film, a studio that had given me one of the best films of my career #ladiesvsrickybahl I could have never said no. Besides, It was a great team to be a part of & I thought why not? Then, when I watched the film at the cast & crew screening (end of September) I realised that 1 or 2 important scenes where I thought I could have made maximum impact didn’t make it to the final cut... or it was there, only in part (I’m aware that happens a lot in the bigger scheme of things & it’s ok) ... as an actor, naturally I was disappointed. But then, the film released & what I never expected happened. I started receiving heartfelt positive responses from members of the audience about my tiny ‘cameo’ (the character - Dr Mallika Singhal). All my disappointments vanished into thin air. This post is to thank the audiences who appreciated me, from the bottom of my heart. I’m baring my heart to you because I’m overwhelmed & your faith in me gives me strength, determination & all things nice to continue on the path that I have created for myself. It has also made me realise, that being part of a successful film perhaps can only & always be a positive, so thank you for the entire #teamwar ... #war #herestoouraudience #nowthaticanreleasethebts #neverstopbeatit [sic]"

Here's wishing Dipannita Sharma a belated happy birthday!