Awarded the Miss World title

Made film debut playing a duel role in Mani Ratnam's "Iruvar"

First Bollywood film "Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya"; directed by Rahul Rawail

Starred in the critically successful, "Jeans" by S. Shankar

Appeared in the popular Indian films, "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" (1999) and "Mohabbatein" (2000)

Garnered international attention for the lavishly produced "Devdas," which was a major box-office success; film received a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival

Was the first Indian actress to be invited to sit on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival

Chosen by TIME Magazine's Asian Edition as one of Asia's "100 Most Influential People"

Made her US film debut in Gurinder Chadha's "Bride and Prejudice," a Bollywood update of Jane Austen's classic tale

Appeared in "Mistress of Spices," from the novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Played an abused wife in Jag Mundhra's indie film, "Provoked"

Co-starred with Sir Ben Kingsley and Colin Firth in "The Last Legion"

Co-starred with Steve Martin in "The Pink Panther 2"