Sushmita Sen almost quit Miss India 1994 because of Aishwarya Rai

Sushmita Sen, the winner of the Miss India title in 1994, recently revealed that she almost missed the competition due to her reluctance to compete against Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. In an old video that resurfaced on Reddit, the Main Hoon Na actress explained that she withdrew her Miss India form from the contest because of Aishwarya's beauty. Sen's mother encouraged her to participate, and she eventually competed and emerged as the winner.

During the interview, Sen also disclosed that 25 other girls had also withdrawn from the competition due to Aishwarya's participation. However, the actress emphasized that her win was due to her personal preferences in clothing and her knowledge of India's textile heritage, not just her beauty.

To answer the final question in the tiebreaker round, Sen gave credit to Mahatma Gandhi's promotion of Khadi, a handwoven fabric, that became the basis of India's textile legacy. This answer, coupled with her stunning beauty, secured her the Miss India title and eventually the Miss Universe title in the same year, making her the first Indian to win a global beauty pageant.

Sushmita Sen's story is a reminder of the power of self-doubt and how it can limit our potential. Despite her initial reluctance to compete against Aishwarya, Sen's mother encouraged her to participate, and she eventually won the title. It's a lesson to never give up on ourselves, even when we doubt our abilities.

On the work front, Sushmita Sen is currently busy filming for the upcoming web series Aarya 3. The actress is known for her iconic performances in films such as Main Hoon Na, Biwi No. 1, and Dulha Mil Gaya. Her story is a source of inspiration for aspiring actors and individuals who may feel uncertain about their abilities.