Did you know Gauahar Khan, the winner of Bigg Boss 7, had participated in the Miss India contest? As the actress turns a year older today, we take a look at some lesser known facts about the pretty actress. Today, she took to social media and announced that she and her husband Zaid Darbar are expecting a baby!
Updated On: 2022-12-20 07:32 PM IST
Born on August 23, 1983, Gauahar Khan did her schooling from Mount Carmel Convent School in Pune. At the age of 18, Gauahar participated in the 2002 Femina Miss India contest where she came fourth and won the Miss Talented title. Actress Neha Dhupia won the 2002 Femina Miss India title and also made it to the Top 10 of the Miss Universe competition. In the same year, Gauahar Khan represented India in the Miss International contest. (All pictures/Gauahar Khan's official Instagram account)
Soon after, Gauahar Khan took up various modelling projects for famous fashion designers such as Manish Malhotra, Ritu Kumar, Payal Jain and Neeta Lulla. Apart from modelling, Gauahar has also acted in numerous television ads.
Gauahar Khan also appeared in a couple of music videos in the early 2000s. 'Hawa Mein Udati Jaaye' by Bombay Vikings, which was one of the most popular songs of that era, starred Khan.
Gauahar Khan also tried her hands at anchoring. She appeared on the film gossip show Page 3 on Zoom. Meanwhile, Khan also appeared in a small role in 2003's Miss India: The Mystery, starring Neha Dhupia. She played a model participant in the film, which bombed at the Box Office.
In 2009, Gauahar Khan finally took the acting plunge with Yash Raj Films' Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year. She next appeared in Abhishek Bachchan's Game.
In 2012, Gauahar Khan played Chand Bibi in Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra's Ishaqzaade. Her performance in the popular item numbers - Jhalla Walla and Chokra Jawaan - was liked by the audience.
From a journey which started with modelling to featuring in music videos and films, Gauahar Khan has come a long way in her showbiz career.
However, Khan doesn't feel the need to be in soap operas because as it is, she thinks she is accepted across the industry.
In an interview with mid-day, Gauhaur Khan said people want to see her real side and, therefore, she likes to feature mostly in reality shows like she did in the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3 and Bigg Boss 7. In picture: Gauahar Khan with her best friend-VJ Bani.
'I am accepted (across) the industry. The best part about my journey is that I have got more and more love, continuing love for Gauahar Khan, the personality than Gauahar Khan the actor, you know, so I feel like if reality is what people want to see me in, then that's what I am going to give them,' Gauahar said in an interview with IANS.
In picture: Gauahar Khan posing with the Bigg Boss 7 trophy, as she emerged as the winner in December 2013 defeating actress Tanishaa Mukerji.
Gauahar Khan believes people can connect with her and that is the 'greatest victory' for her. 'When people can relate to me for the person I am and women and girls of all ages come up to me and say that I am a kind of an inspiration for them, that's what is my motto of life. That's what I want to do. I want to influence people in a positive way. So, if reality television is that, so I think it works,' Gauahar said in an interview with IANS.
In picture: Gauahar Khan with Vidya Balan on the sets of Begum Jaan.
Gauahar Khan is also known for speaking her mind without fear. Coming from a family background that has nothing to do with the film industry, Gauahar Khan said she has been lucky enough that she never faced the casting couch! If she ever faced sexual harassment she would be vocal about it.
In picture: Gauahar Khan with her parents and sister-actress Nigaar Khan.
In 2018, Gauahar Khan launched her clothing line as well. The actress credited her mother for her sense of style, 'Even though we had a humble living but my mom would make sure that she would not make her kids step out of the house without socks and shoes and also clips in my hair. My sense of style comes a lot from my mother and the way she kept us. Her saris would mesmerise everybody around her and I used to always take pride in the way my mom carried her personality in any outfit she wore be it nightwear or saris.'
Gauahar Khan was voted in the Top 10 list of the 50 Sexiest Asian Women list in the world for four consecutive years - 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Gauahar Khan was in a brief relationship with TV actor and her Bigg Boss co-contestant Kushal Tandon, but they called it quits in 2014. In fact, very few know that Khan was engaged to popular filmmaker Sajid Khan. But their marriage was called off.
Gauahar Khan's sister Nigaar Khan, who is also an actress, got married in 2015. Gauhar Khan said even though she may be next in line to get married after her elder sister Nigaar's wedding, there is no pressure on her from her family to tie the knot and settle down. 'Marriage with whom? There has to be someone. Nigaar has got married and she is very happy. But there is no pressure on me by my family or anyone else. The only pressure on me is the one that I put on myself to work harder,' said Gauahar in an interview with mid-day.
In picture: Gauahar and Nigaar Khan
