Manushi Chhillar is an Indian actress as well as a model who was crowned Miss World 2017 after participating in the pageant. The winner of the Femina Miss India 2017 pageant represented her home state Haryana and became the sixth Indian to be named Miss World. The historical drama Prithviraj will be her feature film debut, and she will also be making her television debut. Chillar was born in Rohtak, Haryana. His father, Dr. Mitra Basu Chhillar (Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) scientist and mother Dr. Neelam Chhillar is an associate professor and department head of neurochemistry at the Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences.

Chhillar was ranked No. 1 in The Times. In the list of “India’s 50 Most Desirable Women 2017. Chhillar studied at St. Thomas’ School, New Delhi. She cleared the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) and NEET exam in her first attempt and is currently pursuing a medical degree (MBBS) at Bhagat Phool Singh Medical College, Sonepat. She is a trained Kuchipudi dancer and has also attended the National School of Drama. Manushi Chhillar is the sixth Indian woman to win the Miss World pageant. Represented the World 2017, where she became a semifinalist in the Top Model, People’s Choice, and Multimedia competitions, and was the winner of the Head-to-Head Challenge from Group Nine and the co-winner of the Beauty with a Purpose e-contest.

Chhillar is fluent in Hindi and English, apart from her mother tongue, Haryanvi. She is a trained Kuchipudi dancer, and had acquired her training under Raja and Radha Reddy.

Pageantry

Femina Miss India

Chhillar ventured into pageantry with Fashion Big Bazaar sponsored Campus Princess 2016, where she was crowned as one of the finalists from All India Institute of Medical Sciences in December 2016. It was conducted by the Miss India Organization.[15] Thereafter, she went on to win the title of Femina Miss India Haryana in April 2017. Chhillar represented the state of Haryana in the annual Femina Miss India contest. During the competition, Chhillar was crowned Miss Photogenic.

Chhillar, as a top 15 semi-finalist was asked by Karan Johar: "The government is considering to ban surrogacy in India. What is your opinion regarding this?"

I feel everyone in the world should have a right to be a parent. So, instead of banning surrogacy in India, the government should focus on preventing it's exploitation.

During the final question and answer round of Femina Miss India 2017, the top 5 delegates were asked the same question - "You have spent 30 days with 30 fellow contestants at Femina Miss India. What lesson will you take back with you?", to which Chhillar responded:

These days that I have spent with my fellow contestants has been the most dynamic period of my life. The only thing that was certain during the whole experience was uncertainty. The one belief that I would take back with me is that, yes...I can change the world. When I entered Miss India, there was only passion. However, through this journey, I acquired a vision in life. That vision and the belief that I can change the world, is something I'm going to take back with me.

She later went on to win the contest's main title Femina Miss India World 2017, in the finale event venued in Yash Raj Film Studio, on 25 June 2017. Thereby, she earned the right to represent India at Miss World 2017.

Miss World 2017

Chhillar (center) together with Miss World Indonesia 2017-Achintya Holte Nilsen (left) and Miss World 2016-Stephanie Del Valle (right) visiting National Museum of Indonesia on 21 February 2018.
Chhillar represented India at Miss World 2017, where she became a finalist in the Top Model, People's Choice, and Multimedia competitions, and was the winner of the Head-to-Head Challenge from Group Nine and co-winner of the Beauty with a Purpose competition.She is India's fourth Beauty with a Purpose winner at Miss World and the first woman to win Miss World and Beauty with a Purpose jointly. Chhillar's Beauty with a Purpose project was titled Project Shakti. The campaign's goal is to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene. She visited about 20 villages for the project and treated over 5,000 women.

During the final question and answer round, Chhillar was asked - "Which profession should receive the highest salary in the world?" Responding to the same, she answered:

Since I am very close to my mother, I think that a mother deserves the highest respect. When you talk about salary, I don't think it's just about cash, but the love and respect that you give to someone. My mother has been the biggest inspiration in my life. All mothers, they just sacrifice so much for their kids. So, I believe the profession which deserves the highest salary, respect and love should be of a mother.

On 18 November 2017, Chhillar was crowned Miss World 2017 by outgoing titleholder Miss World 2016, Stephanie Del Valle from Puerto Rico in the finals in Sanya, China. She became the sixth Indian woman to win the crown, and the first since Priyanka Chopra, Miss World 2000.

Acting career

Chhillar made her Bollywood debut with Yash Raj Films's project, Samrat Prithviraj directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi. The film is based on Prithviraj Raso, an epic poem composed in Braj Bhasha language about the life of Prithviraj Chauhan, a Rajput king from the Chahamana dynasty. After several auditions and trails, she was cast in the film as the Princess of Kannauj, Sanyogita, Prithviraj's wife. She will star alongside Akshay Kumar, who will portray the titular role Prithviraj.

The film was initially scheduled to release on the occasion of Diwali in 2020, but was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. Elaborating her role, Chhillar stated: “It's a huge responsibility to play princess Sanyogita, a powerful personality who stood up for what is right and took the most important decisions of her life herself.”

Chhillar signed a three-film deal contract with Yash Raj Films, and her second film is titled The Great Indian Family, a comedy film backed again by the banner and directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, where she would work opposite Vicky Kaushal. She will also appear alongside John Abraham in Dinesh Vijan's Tehran

Endorsements

Chhillar has modelled for brands like Bata, Fashion Big Bazaar, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Gio watches, and Club Factory. In April 2018, she was announced as the brand ambassador for the retail jewellery group, Malabar Gold and Diamonds. She has promoted brands like Audi Q5 and Panasonic. She is also the official brand ambassador for Adidas and Pantene in India. In May 2023, she was announced as the brand ambassador for the American multinational cosmetics company, The Estée Lauder Companies.

Social works

In May 2018, Chhillar joined hundreds of women in a 3 km walk through the streets of Delhi to create social awareness on the World Menstrual Hygiene Day. Supporting the Fit India Campaign, Chhillar along with the Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu waved the flag at the starting line to initiate the race, as thousands of cyclists made it to the streets of Delhi celebrating the World Bicycle Day. She is a strong advocate for vegetarianism and has expressed her views on the subject on various platforms

In the media

Subsequent to her win at Miss World, Chhillar received widespread recognition and attention from the media. Chhillar was recognised for her achiements by CNN-IBN, and she was awarded at the 2017 Indian of the Year awards, by the organization.[139] She was voted as the Most Desirable Woman of India in the 2018 internet survey conducted by Times of India. In 2019, she was named as the 'Sexiest Vegetarian Personality' in India, by PETA. She reacted to the award by expressing, “Being a vegetarian has actually been a way of life for me. My parents were vegetarians and while they gave me a choice, I never felt like I was missing on something. I've always been a vegetarian and have never felt like I needed to change that.” In the annual award show organized by Lokmat newspaper, she was named as the most promising Fresh Face in the industry.

Film Awards

Other awards and recognition

Media titles

Television
 

Films