Crowned as Miss Universe in 2000, Lara Dutta Bhupathi not only captures hearts with her winsome smile but also scores high with her brilliant acting skills, particularly as Bindiya in Billu (2009). Starring alongside prolific actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Irrfan, Lara pulled off her character with elegance, thus defining her competence. Clad in a traditional sari with a bindi complimenting her look, her personality embodied grit, optimism and resilience moulding her as an inspiring character. Her eyes were full of depth describing the hardships endured by her over the years and her desire to gain recognition within the society she belonged to. She did her duties effortlessly while acting as a beacon of hope for her family, navigating them through the toughest challenges.The song Khudaya khair was definitely composed to appreciate this beautifully penned character. Absolutely one of her most delightful performances! (My favourite Lara Dutta Bhupathi role is... September 25)

Aayman Anwar Ali

Though the favourite has to be Andaaz, the 2003 debut movie of the beauty queen, Lara Dutta has impressed us in myriad other roles too. Directed by Raj Kanwar, Andaaz is a love triangle between the characters played by lead actors Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra. Though the movie centres on Raj (Akshay) and his shenanigans, Lara shone as the star she was meant to be, playing the widow of a fighter pilot. This may have been one of her best movies.

However, the role which must have been difficult for her to essay is the villager Billu’s wife, Bindiya, in the movie Billu. This role is as far removed from the glitz and glam of Bollywood as it can get. Lara plays the role of a mother of two, keeping the chulha burning, and helping her barber husband make ends meet. Lara effortlessly slipped into the role and did a fine job of it.

Pampa Paul

My favourite Lara Dutta Bhupathi film is Chalo Dilli. It would not be an overstatement to call it a two-character movie. It’s really tough to complement her co-star Vinay Pathak’s acting but without any doubt, Lara has done it perfectly. She was appropriate for the role of Mihika who was a smart, modern, educated lady, always very organised and a boss of the corporate world. But her experiences after she missed her flight made her realise that sometimes you need to come out of your comfort zone and go through a reality check. Lara portrayed the character beautifully, her acting, especially in the climax, was so real that I really found myself getting emotionally attached to Manu Gupta and Mihika, the two characters played by the lead artistes.

Puhabi Das

Lara Dutta Bhupathi played a very memorable role in No Entry where she acted in a very funny part. She gave us all a surprise by essaying the role of a suspicious woman to perfection. Truly, this is one of her most excellent works!

Nandita Shaw

Lara Dutta Bhupathi is a fine actress. The former Miss Universe is really good at playing roles that demand glamour and comedy. But interestingly, although like many other Bollywood movie buffs I like the pretty actress in glamorous and comic roles, my favourite Lara Dutta Bhupathi role is a completely different type of character which she played in the Priyadarshan-directed 2009 movie Billu. By portraying a deglamorised rural woman just perfectly, she delivered a wonderful performance. According to me, it’s one of the career-best performances by Lara.

Sourish Misra