Pooja Chopra Official Blog

No Movies With Jackie

2010-03-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Contrary to reports that Miss India 2009, Pooja Chopra, will star opposite Jackie Bhagnani in his father Vashu Bhagnani’s film Faltu, the truth is that Pooja is not doing the film.

Talking to Mumbai Mirror yesterday, Pooja Chopra said that she was grossly upset with Vashu for leaking it to the press that she was doing the film before she had signed it.

Pooja Chopra said that Vashu offered her Faltu before she embarked for the Miss India contest. “The next thing I know is that there were reports saying that I am doing his film. My agency got into action and did some damage control. You see, I am not supposed to sign any film till I crown my successor, which will happen in April 2010. But I am definitely not going to sign Faltu even now because this whole incident has left me with a very sour taste.”

Pooja Chopra said that Vashu’s premature announcement was careless and unprofessional, and it created a mess for her. She said, “I have also been in talks with other producers who want to launch me. When they heard that I am doing Vashu’s film, they were extremely puzzled and I had a lot of explaining to do.”

When asked if she would prefer her career to flag off opposite a bigger star than Jackie, Pooja Chopra was diplomatic. She said, “I am nobody to judge who is big or small. For all you know, Faltu might be a big hit.” But when we asked her to imagine her debut in Bollywood opposite Jackie Bhagnani, Pooja Chopra shot back, “I cannot imagine it,” and repeated that twice in quick succession.

Vashu Bhagnani remained unavailable for comment. However, Jackie Bhagnani called to say, “We had not offered any film to Pooja Chopra. I haven’t even met her. The only girl who was under consideration was Puja Gupta, Miss India Universe 2007.”

Hot Bollywood Entry

2010-02-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

Beauty queen Pooja Chopra, who was crowned Femina Miss India World 2009, says she is “not in a hurry for Bollywood”.

“There are a few scripts that have come my way. I won’t say none of them is exciting but the fact is I am not in a hurry to get into Bollywood. I am not very keen in trying my hand in the industry as of now. If I get something very interesting, I would definitely think about it,” Pooja Chopra, who was here for the inauguration of Richfeel Trichology Centre, told IANS.

She feels the script and the director are important elements for success of a movie.

“The director and script have more importance for me than who would be my co-star. I don’t have a specific list of actors to work with but definitely would like to go for a big banner like Karan Johar and Red Chillies Entertainment production house,” she added.

Richfeel Trichology Centre offers solution to all hair and scalp problems.

“Richfeel’s collaboration with Miss India has been from a very long time, and after experiencing it myself I can say it is good. It is good to endorse a brand in which you really believe.”

The 24-year-old is keeping herself busy with a lot of fashion events, public appearances, shoots and endorsements.

Who is Pooja Chopra?

2010-02-09T06:35:00.000-08:00

She is attractive, confident, has an infectious smile and a charming personality. In spite of all this, Pooja Chopra could not make it as a ‘Miss World’. However, this has not dampened the spirits of this ‘Miss India’ as she knew there would only be one winner for the ‘Miss World’ title.

“I may have innumerable reasons as to why I couldn’t make it, but the fact is I didn’t make it. Life is not in one’s control,” says Pooja Chopra, who was in the City recently for the ‘Fashion Week’. But she did bring home the title of ‘Beauty with a purpose’ award and received $10,000 for the ‘Nanhi Kali’ project. One also saw her cry on television then. “That week was really bad for me as I had injured myself. People were against my taking part as it was a serious fracture. I broke down on stage because there was so much inside me, which unfortunately came out on stage. I feel silly now! Gosh...billions saw me sob,” she adds.

Walking the ramp and winning beauty pageants were never a part of Pooja’s dream. In fact as a child, she always wanted to grow up to be an IAS officer.

A tomboy to the core and an active participant in sports, Pooja Chopra gradually started being in tune with her feminine side. “People would come and compliment me. Slowly, I started getting offers for modelling. I applied for Miss India and got through, the rest is history,” explains Pooja Chopra.

The entire experience of ‘Miss World’, she explains, was nothing less than a long holiday. She cherished meeting new people and learning about different cultures. “The other girls were also curious about India. They constantly asked me about Taj Mahal and Aishwarya Rai,” she laughs.

With all her predecessors having made a foray into Bollywood, Pooja Chopra, too hopes to get there someday. Her favourite heroes are Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan. However, before that she has other plans on her mind. “I don’t want to be just another ‘Miss India’. I want to leave my mark by doing a lot of social work in orphanages and with the NGOs. Till then movies can wait,” she signs off.

Beauty with Purpose Award

2009-12-13T00:18:00.000-08:00

Beauty with Purpose Award - In Pooja Chopra's own words...

"I may have innumerable number of reasons so as to why I couldn’t make it, but that wouldn’t take away from the fact that I didn’t make it.

Sorry India I know how anxious and hopeful all of you would have been watching the competition live. I’m sorry to have let u down but I tried my best to represent India and qualities of an Indian of being strong willed, determined and dedicated in the best possible way, I have another reason to be happy actually very happy. My "Nanhi Kali" project will receive 10,000 US $ as my beauty with a purpose award :)

And of course what brings me immense satisfaction and happiness is the fact that I walked on stage, I lived my dream. How blessed I felt just to be there on that stage is a feeling I would cherish for a lifetime.

I am sorry that I broke down on the stage but there was so much inside me which unfortunately come out on the stage. Feel silly now! Gosh...billions saw me sob :( sad!)

Old saying but I still do believe in it. Whatever happens, happen for good! I am god’s favourite child and I know he has a plan for me... Love u god! Thank you for giving me the strength and courage to walk and for the beauty with a purpose award. Really, made me feel quite like a Miss World winner. :)

Anyhow, everyone including the newly crowned miss world wish me speedy recovery, I can’t wait to get back home be with mom, nani, didi and few close friends!

Will cherish the moments for a lifetime, the girls, functions, all the fun we had together, safari, parties, the organisation members who were very supportive and the experience would have been incomplete without doctor Kim (who by the way is still complaining that I need to rest).

So now first to Abu Dhabi then to London and then to India yeh! :)"

Miss World 2009 Contest Talk with Pooja

2009-12-08T06:40:00.000-08:00

Miss World 2009 Contestants

Before leaving for the Miss World 2009 pageant, Pooja Chopra said, “Day and night I have been dreaming about that crown, how it would feel when I touch it, the colours, the sparkle of the diamond, the sapphire, everything. So the moment I get it, I’m not going to leave it.” We might see her dream coming true in near future.

She is attractive, confident, has an infectious smile and a charming personality. Currently in South Africa for the Miss World 2009 pageant, Pooja Chopra is enjoying the best time of her life.

Be it various competitions, meeting the South African president, getting tips from golf legend Gary Player, an encounter with Africa’s wildlife or a trip to Abu Dhabi, Pantaloons Femina Miss India ’09 Pooja Chopra is making the most of everything. The stunning lady shares some details of her exhilarating journey ...

Pooja Chopra’s Rollercoaster Ride
I think it’s one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. We are living a very fast-paced life here and are travelling a lot. We recently visited five cities in a week. I am experiencing a mixed bag of emotions at the moment.

I am excited that I am representing my country at such a huge platform, meeting people of such high stature; we are showered with gifts wherever we go and are the focus of the entire media. At the same time, there is a lot of pressure, there is hope but the future is quite uncertain.

There is a huge amount of stress, as you have to look perfect all the time. You can’t roam around in casual clothes, everything about you is being observed so closely. How you carry yourself, how you eat, talk, how much you talk ... everything matters here.

India’s quite a Hot Topic
The list of my friends here is very long, yet I will say I am close to the contestants from Bosnia, Serbia, Scotland, Russia and Indonesia, who’s my roommate as well. I also like Miss Japan, she’s really cute.

There are total 112 contestants, all extremely good-looking. We all speak different languages, follow different religions, have vast cultural diversities, yet are bonding pretty well.

Everyone here is so interested in knowing about India and our culture. All the contestants seem familiar with Bollywood. One of my very good friends here, Miss Scotland, has taken my contact details and wants to work in Bollywood. I was surprised to see a contestant wearing a saree during an event. I know so many girls here who are so fond of sarees and salwar kameez.

Recently, a lot of fellow contestants asked me about Aishwarya Rai. They said she is one of the most popular Miss World winners so far. They all are very impressed with her global popularity.

‘Feels nice to see so many Indians here’
I am so far from home and my country, yet I don’t feel like an outsider at all. I met so many Indians here at the airport, during the safari, shopping trips and elsewhere. All of them were so warm and clicked pictures with me. Everybody said they would pray for me.

‘There will be only one Winner’
All of us here are not just contestants, we are all beauty queens. There will be only one Miss World at the end but in a way we all are winners. What matters more is that we are relishing the best time of our lives. We are staying in the most luxurious hotels and are treated like cherished celebrities. It’s no less than a long holiday for all of us.

I think the judges will have a really tough time while choosing one of us, as everyone is so good. Everybody is a strong competitor and has their own strengths. We all are just trying to put in our best efforts and the rest is definitely up to destiny. The other day, I was talking to my mother and she asked me the same question, and I told her that everyone here is so different from each other that it’s difficult to pick the best.

Dealing with Expectations
Indian contenders for Miss Universe and Miss Earth, Ekta and Shriya couldn’t bring the crown home. I am asked if this increases the pressure on me. Don’t remind me about the pressure, I am shouldering a huge responsibility. Obviously, everyone’s eyes are set on me now and they have high hopes from me. I don’t want to think about it at the moment, otherwise the pressure will start showing on my face.

Journey from Pooja Chopra to Miss India
I have always been very respectful towards my country but after coming here, it has gone to another level. I feel more patriotic now. Rather than calling me Pooja, my fellow contestants call me ‘India’ and I also gladly respond to that. That feeling of pride, dignity and honour is simply matchless.

‘Want to Hug Mom’
I am in regular touch with my family; otherwise, I would have surely died. It’s been more than a month that I left India and I am longing to be with my mom.

Lately, all of us went for an art exhibition and all the Miss World contestants were asked to pick a painting from there. I saw a painting, which had me almost in tears. I headed to the washroom immediately as I didn’t want to cry in front of the camera. That painting beautifully showcased a mother hugging her child. I chose that painting for myself. When I was asked why I picked up that art work, I somehow managed to hold my tears and replied, “Desperately need a hug from my mother.”

My mother and grandmother are landing here soon. I just can’t wait to see them, my mom is my lucky charm. I am sure I am going to cry a lot after meeting her.

The Title
I will not say that it’s my life but it’s surely no less than that too. My family and friends who have seen me through everything have so many expectations from me. I just can’t let them down. If I, unfortunately, fail to bag the crown, I really don’t know how I will deal with it. However, I don’t want the pressure to bog me down. I just want to concentrate my energy on winning the Miss World ’09 title.

At the end, I will say that there is nothing beyond God and destiny. Everyone who knows me or doesn’t know me, please pray for me. Go to churches, gurudwaras or temples, fast or organise havans ... I just need everyone’s blessings! Pray for me.

Swimsuit Competition - Cape Town

2009-12-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

Pooja Chopra in Swimsuit

Cape Town - Miss World 2009 Contestants in Swimsuit

In Johannesburg South Africa

2009-12-04T05:16:00.000-08:00

Pooja Chopra, Pantaloons Femina Miss World 2009, met up with the President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, during one of the Miss World 2009 activities.

At the meeting, the President expressed his support for the Miss World contest returning to South Africa, where he hosted the 112 contestants at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, as part of the month-long Miss World festival.

“The Miss World contest brings nations of the world together and is an important platform for promoting unity and togetherness among all of us. This contest brings happiness,” he stated.

He also highlighted the economic benefits of hosting the Miss World festival, in particular tourism, and recognised the contest for encouraging contact and cooperation among people of all nations. Pooja Choopra agreed with the fact that Miss World is a role model for her generation; the contest inspires girls to recognise opportunities to achieve their full potential.

The Miss World 2009 pageant will take place in Johannesburg on Dec 12, 2009.

Mother who sacrificed for world beauty

2009-11-28T23:42:00.000-08:00

Pooja Chopra and Tatum Keshwar

Pooja Chopra, in Durban this week as part a national road show ahead of the Miss World pageant next month, said her mother, Neera Chopra, made the tough decision to start a new life away from the man who could not accept a second daughter.

Boys in India are traditionally regarded as future bread-winners, while girls are considered a financial burden because their families must pay dowries to get them married.

"I don't know how a woman could have been so strong to take a 20-day-old baby and a seven-year-old and walk out of a home with nothing," said the 24-year-old beauty from Pune.

"The last I heard of my father was that he had married again and has two sons."

Pooja Chopra, a commerce graduate, lifted the title of Miss India World earlier this year. She believes it was her answer to a question posed by the judges that landed her crown.

"My question was: 'If you were to meet God, what question would you ask?' I said: 'God, I see you in my mother's eyes, and they say you cannot be everywhere, that's why you have given us all a mother. I am lucky enough that I have my mother, but there are so many people in this world who don't. Why?'"

Pooja Chopra downplays her modest 1.73m height, saying it was not as important as it seemed. "It just goes to show you that it is not important how tall you are, but how tall your personality is."

She believes that competitions like Miss World are necessary to create platforms for young women. "Here one person can become an icon from the good she does."

Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar agrees.
"There is this concept of fame in a can. But this platform provides the opportunity to create a global ambassador who is a good, wholesome role model," she said.

The 1.81m-tall model is hoping to impress the judges in the pageant finals, saying she would love to do well. "It would be a victory for South Africa."

The finals will be held in the Gallagher Convention Centre on December 12.

Pooja Chopra Latest Pics

2009-11-06T06:45:00.000-08:00

Pooja Chopra Latest Pics

Preparation Miss World Pageant 2009

2009-11-05T05:51:00.000-08:00

Pooja Chopra, Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2009, is all set to leave for London on Friday in preparation for the Miss World pageant in South Africa.

“From London I will go to Abu Dhabi and from there, to the host country,” said Pooja Chopra, who is as excited as she is confident. “I am completely focussed on winning the crown, and for that, I have worked very hard with my trainers. And while I am nervous and anxious, I am also excited. I am aware that it is a huge responsibility. But I also know that this time will never come back in my life again. So I keep reminding myself to enjoy the experience,” says 23-year-old Pooja Chopra.

While India’s top trainers are confident she will bring back the crown, Pooja Chopra said, “I am leaving no stone unturned, I have even styled my own shoes, down to the colour, heel and look, and have selected my bags and accessories in such a manner that everything should be perfect and have an Indianness about it,”

Apart from that, she intends to promote India in every possible manner. “If anyone asks me whether India is a country of snake charmers or claims to know about India from Slumdog Millionaire, I will correct their facts and figures. I will stand by my nation and tell them that we have people like A R Rahman, Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who all are global icons,” said Pooja Chopra proudly.

The preparations are done, but how confident is Pooja Chopra about winning the Miss World crown? “I believe in destiny. I have done my best, and I will put my best foot forward. Plus, I believe a lot in prayers and blessings. A lot of people are praying for me, even people who don’t know me directly, as they want the crown to come back to India. So, with 1.2 billion people putting pressure on God, I think it should work,” said Pooja Chopra. “Also, my mom, who is my lucky charm, is going along with me, so I’m confident of winning.” And if she wins? “Oh, believe me, I’m not going to let it go to my head. Day and night I have been dreaming about that crown, how it would feel when I touch it, the colours, the sparkle of the diamond, the sapphire, everything. So the moment I get it, I’m not going to leave it, I’m going to parade all over with that crown sitting pretty on my head,” replied Pooja Chopra.

The people who prepared Pooja Chopra Marc Robinson - Contestant and Fashion director; Prashant Talwalkar - Fitness and Diet expert from Talwalkars; Shiamak Davar - Guru of Modern Contemporary Dance in Indian Dance Lessons; Sabira Merchant - Diction expert; Vinita Alvares Fernandes - Etiquette consultant; Dr Abhijit Desai - Makeover expert from Evolve; Dr Rekha Sheth - Nivea Visage Skin Care expert; Dr Dilip Deshpande - Smile and Dentalcare expert; Dr Apoorva and Sonal Shah - Haircare experts from Richfeel Trichology Centre; Jitu Savlani - Fashion photographer; Ashley Rebello - Wardrobe Styling expert; Ojas Rajani - Makeup expert; Najeeb Ur Rehman - Chief Colour and Styling consultant from Schwarzkopf Professional; Anjana Kuthiala for Art Appreciation; Swati Vatsa - Styling for photoshoot; Ritu Kumar - Indian and fusion wear and traditional outfits; Said Ritu Kumar,

“Pooja Chopra is going for the Miss World pageant and this one doesn’t have a national costume round. So, it will be her day-to-day appearances that will be important. She has taken a lot of sarees with and western outfits from the Ritu Kumar Label collection. We have urged her not to carry brands that will be easily available to other contestants there, so that her wardrobe is unique. So, her wardrobe would be a good combo of Indian and western, with a strong Indian influence.” Swapnil Shinde - Casual and formal wear dresses; Shantanu and Nikhil - Finale evening gown and cocktail wear; Ashley Rebello - Western wear (casual and formal). Other designers who helped Pooja Chopra with her wardrobe include Archana Kochchar, Varsha Bhavnani,

Mandira Wirk, Malini Ramani, Narendra Kumar Ahmed, Ranna Gill, Priyanka Rajiv, Nachiket Barwe, Renu Tandon, Rakesh Agarwal, Asif Merchant and Preeti Chandra. Tresmode - footwear partner, Tresmode is the footwear partner for Pooja Chopra. Kapil Mahtani from this brand said, “High Fashion has a short ephemeral and magical life. Its for people who are adventurous, take risks and play with convention to constantly evolve. Such is reflected in Pooja Chopra’s collection. It’s about being feminine yet adventurous and experimental to take on the world.” Chef Hemant Oberoi - Special etiquette session at the Chef’s Studio, The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai; Novotel, Juhu, Mumbai; Ritika Ramtari, Istayak Ansari, Umesh Mohite, Kenny Motwani, Kamesh Goel, Hariman Lama, Usha Kakade, Sunny Chopra, Kay Vijay Ahuja, David and Deepa, Abdul Khan, Khalid Shaikh and Amit Dholakia.

Pooja Chopra in Bridal Wear

2009-10-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

Eijaz Khan, Pooja Chopra and Priyanka Shah

Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2009 Pooja Chopra, Priyanka Shah and Eijaz Khan walked around this Bandra store dressed in well-crafted bridal wear; meanwhile, a handfull of guests wowed at these creations, designed by ace coutuiers Asif Merchant and Sajeda Virji, and congratulated the duo on their latest line of formal and bridal wear.

Pooja Choopra tried out a rich lehenga, professing to be a huge fan of Asif and Sajeda’s ethnic Persian embroideries. Eijaz wore a brilliant blue sherwani and looked the smart groom. Ananya Dutt was heard reminiscing with Asif about her modelling days when Asif used to design for her. Jasveer Kaur, Aryan Vaid and Ravi Behl also dropped in to get a peek into bridal fashion just before the wedding season.

Jackky Bhagnani - Faltu

2009-09-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

After romancing Miss India International Vaishali Desai in his debut movie Kal Kissne Dekha, Jackky Bhagnani will now be seen opposite Miss India-World Pooja Chopra. The model is making her debut with Vashu Bhagnani's Faltu.

After the debacle of Jackky's debut vehicle, papa Vashu is very careful about his next. A source reveals, "They auditioned for a couple of new faces but have zeroed down on Pooja Chopra. She was finalized in an audition that had at least a dozen Bollywood aspirants contending for the role. Having done a couple of commercials, Pooja Chopra had the perfect face; the production house was looking for."

The source continues, "It is gen x movie talking about the story of youngsters of today. They wanted a fresh face opposite Jackky and chose Pooja Chopra for the same."

Jackky however claims, "Talks are on with Pooja Chopra but nothing has been finalized as yet."

The movie has Sanjay Dutt playing the main protagonist of the dean of the college. One will also see Riteish Deshmukh in a cameo. The movie will go on floors in November.

Nanhi Kali Project

2009-09-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

Pooja Chopra, has associated herself with Nanhi Kali, a Project jointly managed by the K.C. Mahindra Education Trust and the Naandi Foundation, to endorse the cause of the girl child. She will be raising funds for the sponsorship of the underprivileged girl child by making a mass appeal to Indians to support this critical social issue. Pooja handed over a cheque to Project Nanhi Kali for the sponsorship of two Nanhi Kalis whom she plans to educate on a long term basis.

On the occasion of International Girl Child’s Day, 113 Nanhi Kalis sponsored by the Oil and Natural Gas Commission were brought on an exposure cum pleasure trip to the Harish Mahindra Children’s Park at Bhulabhai Desai Road.

On this occasion Pooja Chopra stated, “This cause is very close to my heart as I have been exposed to the subtle nuances of being a girl child in my early childhood days. I hope to collect 10 lacs upwards and strengthen my association with Nanhi Kali before I leave for the International Miss World Pageant, 2009. I will also appeal to the general public to raise funds for these underprivileged children through my media appeal letter.”

Senior ONGC officials, Mr P. K. Pandey, Chief Manager, Human Resources and Mr Manish Kumar Soni, Asst. Executive Engineer were also present on the occasion. Mr Pandey spoke words of inspiration and encouragement to the Nanhi Kalis.

Nalini Das, Head, Marketing, ‘Nanhi Kali’ thanked Ms Pooja Chopra and ONGC for their support and hoped they would continue to be associated with the Project. She stated that education was essential for nurturing the Nanhi Kalis and was the basis of the formation of a good character which helped children in becoming good citizens.

The afternoon ended with fun and frolic as the 113 Nanhi Kalis were seen playing in the sand amidst the slides and swings with Pooja Chopra.

Last month, Pooja Chopra spent a day with the Nanhi Kalis at the Government Girls High School (Second Lancer), Golconda, in Hyderabad.

About Project Nanhi Kali:
Nanhi Kali is a national girl child sponsorship programme and a special project jointly managed by the K. C. Mahindra Education Trust (KCMET) and the Naandi Foundation. It aims to provide education to the underprivileged girl child in India. It is also the most ambitious programme in KCMET’s vision to transform India by providing primary education to the girl child. Over 51,000 girl children are provided free education under the aegis of Nanhi Kali currently.

Mumbai, September 23, 2009

Appeal - Help Raise Funds

2009-09-23T05:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

I, Miss. Pooja Chopra, Femina Miss India World 2009, take deep pleasure in sharing my passion to help raise funds for the underprivileged children especially the Girl Child.

I personally have been through an experience of being an unwanted girl child for my father, it was my mother who took this courageous decision of SAVING THE GIRL CHILD, i.e. ME who stands today as a symbol of success, fortitude, and determination in the face of difficulty.

Please help me raise money and support my cause as without the strength of millions behind me, it would be an insurmountable task. I appeal to you to give of yourself generously in the form of a monetary donation. My endeavour is to collect Ten Lakh Rupees for this worthy cause and I am sure with the force of the good people behind me and the blessings of God and the little children who will benefit from this, I know I will be able to achieve this.

I am personally willing to visit your organization or your home to interact with your colleagues or family, whichever is the case if the contribution is Fifty Thousand Rupees and more. You are welcome to have the Press in attendance. I will also invite you for an interactive session with the NGO to whom the entire collection will be donated, where media will be present. However in gratitude for whatever contribution you kindly decide to give, I will send you a personal thank you letter.

All donors will be getting 80 CG certificate for their tax redemption from the NGO in question. I hope you will help me take this endeavour of mine forward and ‘HELP SAVE THE GIRL CHILD’ and make your country proud! My sincere thanks to ‘Innocent Heroes’ and ‘The Tiara’ for supporting this cause of mine.

Thank you and warm regards,
Pooja Chopra,
Femina Miss India World 2009.

The cheque has to be made on the mentioned name below:
Pay K.C. Mahindra Education Trust A/c Nanhi Kali

The address where the cheque has to be sent is mentioned below:
Rakesh Indulkar/Ankita Toshniwal
ABSL
Radio Mirchi Office , Trade Garden
Kamala Mills Compound
Senapati Bapat Marg
Lower parel
Mumbai - 13

A Street Play in Pune

2009-09-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

Although the rain gods tried to play spoilsport and put paid to plans of staging this play with a difference, Pooja Chopra and other students of The Tiara Modelling School went ahead with their performance. Staging two simultaneous acts of It’s No Sin to be a Girl (Ladki Hona Paap Nahin), first at the Siddharth Nagar Slums in Kondhwa and then at the J J Garden, Camp in Pune. Pooja Chopra, who was crowned Femina Miss India World 2009, said it was the first time she had ever performed a street play.

“For me, this is the very first time as a performer in a street play. I was more than glad to take up this role since it is a cause which is very close to my heart,” said Pooja Chopra. One of two daughters, who were raised by a single mother, Pooja Chopra says it’s very disheartening that even in this day and age, people consider it unlucky to have a daughter and still yearn for a male child.

“My mother had to walk out of her marital home because I, the second child, was born a girl, whereas, my father wanted a son. But now, after all these years, and with me having been crowned Miss India, all doubts have been laid to rest,” said Pooja Chopra. In a play that exhorted people to treat boys and girls as equals, Pooja Chopra and other students of The Tiara depicted how in the 21 st century, people still differentiate between children on the basis of gender.

“When women can become doctors, engineers, pilots and now, even the President of India, there’s no question of discriminating between boys and girls anymore,” said the lead performer of the play. The performers put forth a strong message against female infanticide and foeticide. Present on the occasion were Ritika Ramtri Kumar, pageant coach and owner, The Tiara and Nera Chopra, mother of Pooja Chopra.

Miss World pageant in December 2009

2009-08-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

When Times of India met Pantaloons Femina Miss World 2009 Pooja Chopra recently, she said that she was craving for some good Delhi food.

She was here for a shoot and the minute it got over, she asked, “Where can I get good grilled chicken?” adding, “I am really hungry.” Well, now when a Miss World demands, it sure gets fulfilled!

After she’d had her share of grilled chicken, TOI asked her about her grilling preparations for the Miss World pageant. “I’m doing my homework. I’ve got CDs of the last six years’ pageants to see and figure out what it takes to win,” she told us.

And when she goes for the pageant in December, her mom will accompany her. “My mother is my confidence and inspiration. I can’t do without her,” she said, adding, “I remember throwing a fit during the Miss India East contest on learning that my mother wasn’t coming along. Later, I compelled her to come with me. It’s good to have someone who is your own in the huge crowd.”

Tata Teleservices Brand Ambassador

2009-08-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) on Wednesday named two brand ambassadors - Pooja Chopra and Krushnaa Patil for its GSM mobile service.

Pooja Chopra is Femina Miss India World 2009 and Krushnaa Patil is the youngest girl to conquer Mount Everest. The company has launched a brand theme “Do-ERs” for its upcoming GSM mobile service called Tata Docomo.

Both Pooja Chopra and Krushnaa Patil are Do-ERs of Tata Teleservices.

These young achievers are personifications of the Tata Docomo brand philosophy, Tata Docomo Marketing Head, Mr Abdul Khan said in a statement.

“Pooja Chopra and Krushnaa Patil are living personas of the Do-ER spirit and it is only their unrelenting faith and their zeal to re-create boundaries that has seen them emerge as winners,” he said.

I love my life

2009-07-31T21:03:00.000-07:00

What is life if full of care, u have no time to stand and stare!! But I love this kind of life... gosh!! m fed up of announcing that I love catching up on my sleep while travelling , love d life of living out of a suitcase , everyday working , travelling , shooting, appreances ..It’s so much fun!! So what if I get 4hrs of sleep, big deal if my schedule goes for a toss. I live each day a brand new day something different to do everyday, different city everyday n sometimes even 3cities in a day... whoa.. Now that’s what I call life!! still rember asking god once that "god keep me so busy that I have no time even for myself " n here’s my answer to my wish that I had once made :) what more could I have asked for. Feel blessed! Mom grumbles, cousins pity me, friends say m a robot n my managers wonder how I keep pace with working every single day. But that only goes to show how much I am loved n liked by people around, how can I ever regret!! Naaaah!! In fact now I ask god to make my life even busier n that I should not even have d time to check in n out of aircrafts, better option. A chopper :) GOD. Hope ur listening :) thank you once again god, I love u...

Trip to Turkey

2009-06-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

Pooja Chopra With Ekta Choudhary and Shriya in Turkey

Well, the Turks couldn’t have asked for a better combination of beauty with brains from India. Pooja Chopra, Ekta and Shriya lived it up in the land of evil eye charms, as they went cruising on the river Bosphorus, gas-ballooned at Cappadocia and admired the architecture of the Blue Mosque and Hagiya Sophiya. They are now back home in Mumbai with great memories and a totally refreshed mind. Their travel diary read like...
Baklavas and Turkish Tea:
When it comes to culture, one can’t skip authentic cuisine. So, Pooja Chopra indulged her sweet tooth and confessed, “I couldn’t resist Turkish delights like Baklavas and the Khadaifs. I also quite liked the Imam Bayildi, Borek (pies of flaky pastry stuffed with meat) and the apple tea. They were absolutely mouth-watering.” Ekta, a strict vegan had to choose from a limited choice of barley salad and lentil soup. “I liked the local Cappadocian wine or Raki,” she said.
Istanbul, Cappadocia and bosphorus cruise:
Pooja Chopra and Ekta swore that the one city they would love to settle down in, would be Istanbul. “Cultural yet modern,” gushed the two. The Bosphorus cruise had belly dancers, great music and the most picturesque views of Europe and Asia on the two banks.
Ten things to do before I die: Overwhelmed by the sights of Turkey, Pooja said, “I enjoyed everything right from the palaces, yacht ride, hot air balloon ride, hamam bath, shopping at the spice bazaar, horse riding, cave resort, beaches, spa and great night life, the list is endless. Make a trip to Turkey part of your bucket list (10 things to do before you die).” Shriya and Ekta found Cappadocia and the yacht ride near Kempinski, most enriching.

'Vibrance 2009'

2009-06-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

Pooja Chopra at Virbrance 2009 Fashion Show

Organised by International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD), the fashion show titled ‘Vibrance 2009′ had a ‘Moods and Colours 2020’ as its theme.
Models walked down the ramp in colourful and fascinating costumes designed by budding designers of the institute.
Femina Miss India World 2009 Pooja Chopra also walked the ramp as the showstopper. She wooed the audience with her walk. She appreciated the creativity and originality of students’ creations.
‘Trust me, I like doing students’ shows because after five yrs down the line they will be big designers because they are budding designers of today. Their creativity and imagination is way different. They do not try to ape any other existing designers; they do not try to ape the west. It is all their imagination. So it is very special to them,’ said Pooja Chopra.
Choreographer of the show Rohit Verma said that the best part of the show was that it was not too much expanded in all aspects.
‘The best thing about the show was like there were limited garments, six girls, two guys and one kid. It was fun doing it and I enjoyed every moment of it. The clothes were very dramatic and the scenes were very good so I enjoyed every bit of it,’ said Rohit Verma.
The show offered a big platform to promote budding and future designers from this fashion-designing institute. (ANI).

See Vibrance 2009 fashion show photos :- Pooja Chopra Photos

Vibrance 2009 - Pooja Chopra Video

2009-06-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

Vibrance 2009 - Fashion show organised by International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD)
Pooja Chopra Video

Globe trotter

2009-06-20T22:21:00.000-07:00

If all are wondering as to why I am not updating my blogs, let me inform you that I’ve been globe trotting all this while; Delhi, London, Scotland, Turkey, Ahmadabad, Indore, Siliguri and the list is endless... I am enjoying every minute of it, absolutely loving the life of a nomad. Living out of a suitcase is so much fun :) I’ll be posting pictures of all my trips soon, real soon... So much to write so much to say but pressed of time. SORRY PEOPLE!! Please give me some time...

Father's Day Special

2009-06-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

FATHER’S Day is not something that Miss India-World Pooja Chopra will be looking forward to. Her mother is both dad and mum to her. “I was the second girl child born to my mother, and my father did not want me. When I was 20 days old, my mother had to make a decision – either me or her husband. She picked me. When she left home carrying me and my seven-year-old sister, she turned around and told her husband, ‘One day, this girl will make me proud’,” Ms Chopra told The Times of India recently.

No wonder then that she dedicated her win to her mother. She considers her mother her guiding force, her mentor and her friend. When she started to take part in local pageants in Pune, India and began to model on and off, her mother told her she could model only if her grades did not drop. “One year when my grade dropped to 75 per cent, I had to stop modelling for six months until my next grade came and I proved that I could make it up. My mother has lived every inch of this dream with me.”

Her father, whom the beauty queen has never been in touch with, has not called to congratulate her after her win. Shortly after her mother moved out he remarried and had two sons, she said. “That’s all I know about him. I don’t even know if he knows this is me, his daughter, who stands as Miss India-World today,” she told The Times of India.

In an interview with IANS last month, her mother spoke about her decision to part ways with her husband. “He was not happy because I could not bear him a son and so he wanted to remarry,” Mrs Neera Chopra said of her ex-husband. She said all efforts on her part to please him had failed and in the end she walked out with dignity. “I saw him going around with many girls, but I kept mum because of my family. However, when things became really difficult, I image knew I had to make a choice and I chose my daughters over him,” she said. She says life hasn’t changed much since her daughter won the Miss India-World crown on April 5. But she gladly acknowledges that “people now don’t know me as Neera but as Pooja Chopra’s mother and it is a great feeling.”

The win has made her daughter Pooja Chopra a household name in India. She is frequently featured in the media and people have not stopped asking her when she is joining Bollywood. But she says she has only the Miss World competition on her mind. “I am tired of answering this question. I can’t tell you how busy I am with Miss World preparations. It demands full concentration and at this moment winning the crown holds top priority in my life,” she told IANS at a function in New Delhi recently. This year the Miss World contest will take place in South Africa in December.

Miss World 2009 Preparation

2009-05-30T23:58:00.000-07:00

Pooja Chopra

Tired of answering questions about joining Bollywood, Miss India World Pooja Chopra has only the Miss World competition on her mind which she says is taking up all her time and concentration.
"I am tired of answering this question. I can't tell you how busy I am with Miss World preparations. It demands full concentration and at this moment winning the crown holds top priority in my life," Pooja Chopra told IANS on the sidelines of an event here.
This year the Miss World contest will take place in South Africa, and Pooja Chopra says that her preparations for the contest are going on in full swing.
"I start my day at 5.30 a.m. and after a hectic daily schedule I try to hit the bed by 11.00 p.m. I devote equal time to gym, diction, catwalk classes and my daily sessions with the dietician. Apart from this if I have to go to some event, and then things become very hectic," Pooja Chopra said.
Elaborating on her preparations, the leggy lass said that the preparations for the international pageant were "very different" from those for Miss India.
"There is a stark difference between the two. The reason is that at the Miss World contest I will be competing with 120 girls from different countries and international standards are to be followed, which means I have to pay extra effort in diction, catwalk and current affairs," Pooja Chopra said.
"The most important thing is that I would be representing India whereas when I participated in Miss India contest I was simply Pooja Chopra. There lays the major difference," she added.
Pooja Chopra is confident of her victory and said that she is giving her 100 percent. And if the nation prays for her victory, she might bring back the crown.
"All I want is support from everyone. Just pray for me," Pooja Chopra said.
Last year, Parvathy Omanakuttan was the first runner-up in Miss World. Reita Faria (1966) was the first Indian to win this crown and after that Aishwarya Rai (1994), Yukta Mukhi (1999), Priyanka Chopra (2000) achieved success.

Home is where the Heart is

2009-05-22T01:20:00.000-07:00

Friday, 22 May 2009 - Pooja Chopra Writes
As I even enter my city I suddenly feel this rush of energy flow into my body n although half asleep as I was up till now, I now find myself kind off break into "masakkali" dance playing on Pune’s FM radio. That’s what my city does to me. Everything around me as I pass my college, my school, my old hang out places, bakeries every road as if has some story to it and makes me nostalgic. The sense of belonging that I feel towards my city is inexplicable :) and then entering my home. Even though the small 1bhk it is, feels so peaceful and the best place in the world... truly said, "Home is where the heart is".

Mom then has so many stories to tell. Hardly realise that I’ve just entered home not even freshened up but sit for hours listening to what all she has to say n all that she as to hear. I feel so comfortable in this space. dinner time its all diet food but the mental satisfaction that its home made n cooked by mom i usually tend to overeat :) go to bed by 10 coz i start feeling so lazy n drowsy . The early morn feeling is the best. I wake up and feel how mornings feel in Pune... it’s so different!! And as the day progresses I meet my so adorable Nani... I absolutely love her!! My cousins my frdz, remember old times...yaadein..meethi meethi yaadein :) :)

By Pooja Chopra on Fri, 22 May, 2009 on itimes blog

Pooja Chopra Wallpapers

2009-05-20T09:37:00.001-07:00

Pooja Chopra Wallpapers

Mother's Day

2009-05-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

Pooja Chopra says that she is what her mother made her after surviving a broken marriage and bringing up her sister and Pooja by working round the clock.

So, to ask Pooja Chopra what she did on Mother’s Day 2009.

“I couldn’t do much,” she rued.

Why couldn't you do much?

“Life has been very hectic, especially since the last three days. I bought my mother sarees, a diamond set and a lovely bouquet of flowers,” said Pooja Chopra.

So many gifts, what about quality time with her?

“Yeah, that too! I made adrak wali chai for her for the first time in my life. I must say she was quite surprised. My mother is a rockstar. She has become the mother of the year and she deserves every bit of appreciation that is coming her way,” she says. And Pooja says that her mom was happy that she was working on Mother’s Day. “I was working because she has taught me that work comes first. She was happy that I was busy with work!” added Pooja Chopra.
And what about her father?

Does she ever think about him? “Why would I? What dad did wasn’t good. I want to tell him – you didn’t want me, but look, I have done so much to make my mother proud of me. She is really happy today and that smile will remain forever,” said Pooja Chopra.

Third May 2009

2009-05-07T00:30:00.000-07:00

Third May 2009, my dream did come true, I did cut my cake as a Miss India – the icing on the cake was mom was right beside me. Yes!! All thanks to ToI, early noon on my birthday, I sat in my pyjamas, replying to all my mails – mom enters my room and my jaw drops! Literally! Cos I knew one thing for sure – cos as much as mom wants to be with me, she really wouldn’t spend all the way Pune to Delhi, cos according to her, a penny saved is a penny earned. But when I saw her, I was wondering if I was hallucinating! My expression was quite familiar similar to the one on the the 5th of April, 2009 – the day I won the crown! It’s only later that I realised that it wasn’t mom but ToI who felt that the presence of my mom would be the best gift they could ever give me. I so agree with them!!!
We sat chatting for hours after that – so much to catch up on! Topics didn’t seem to end at all. I was so happy! J. Time flew and from noon it was evening – time to leave for the Times Food Awards. Had no clue what it would be like – had heard a lot about it – but had never been a part of it. For the first time ever I experienced what it felt like to give away an award – to be a part of someone else’s moment of glory! Wow! Too many good things happening at the moment. I think I must carry a piece of wood around with me all the time now. Don’t even want to open my eyes because I feel it all is a dream. For me a moment of pride was when the most reputed people of Delhi came up to mom and exclaimed what an inspiration she has been. A number of people came up to her with tears in their eyes - because either they themselves or someone they knew had been through the same thing – and they were so happy that mum’s a winner. I swear even mom was teary eyed once or twice during the evening. And imagine being surrounded by the best of the best food in Delhi – award winning food I might add – Korean, Italian, Continental, Chinese, pastries and even coffees – thank God it was my birthday and I was allowed to indulge! God really is great!!! J.
Left at 2 am, but was still up chatting with mom till 5 am, and had to wake up early to catch the 8 am flight back to the city that never sleeps – I think I’m going to fit right in!

happy birthday to me

2009-05-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

honestly...trust me at d moment i feel lik a mixed bag of emotions..literally!! m so so happy that my dream of cutting my birthday cake as a miss india is finally gona come true TODAY.. :) but wat is a bday without ur own ppl around???? specially mom :( yes people.. m far away 4m home ....m in delhi!! n all my frdz ,cousins, mom all r bk home in pune ,probably as upset as i am ,tat i couldn b wit dem...but den again as mom says"work is worship".. so i celebrate my bday this eve amist all whos who of delhi with d best of delicacies around...as it happens to b "times food awards" today eve!! sure to hav a god time but wouldve been better had mom been der.stop sulking poojaaa !! d brighter side is tat ill b celebratin my bday again tom once i get bk to bomb with my bomb frdz ;) n ven i get to pune with family n frdz again :) n dn ven i go dubai later next week my frdz hav planned a bash der :) :) :)...soooooo.....celebrations just wont seem to end 4me 4a while now.... wow !! that does bring a smile on my face..but m stil gonna miss d early morn gifts n flowers i used to get at home 4m my buddies...miss u guys!!!

Written by Pooja Chopra on Sun, 03 May, 2009

Kill Pooja Chopra or Forfeit Marriage

2009-05-02T23:20:00.000-07:00

Pooja Chopra's survival is being celebrated throughout India. However, when the Miss India World 2009 was 20 days old, her mother Neera Chopra was asked by her husband to make a choice - kill her child or forfeit the marriage.
Despite knowing that she would be thrown out the house, Neera Chopra decided to keep her daughter, and thus defied the wishes of a bullying husband who wanted the baby destroyed.
Now, twenty-three years later, Pooja, a vivacious young woman, has become a quintessential example of the axiom: every cloud has a silver lining.
She has also become a symbol for the campaign against a tradition that values boys above girls.
"When my mother walked out on my dad, she said to him, `One day this girl will make me proud'. All my life I've wanted my mum to be proud of the decision that she chose me," The Times quoted Pooja Chopra, as saying.
Her success has brought Neera Chopra into the limelight.
Neera Chopra's husband had a respectable job but was a philanderer, prone to domestic violence.
After the birth of her first child, a girl named Shubhra, he made her life a misery. When she became pregnant again, seven years later, Neera Chopra clung to the hope that if the baby was a boy her marriage could be saved. Instead she had Pooja Chopra. Her husband and his relatives refused to visit the baby in hospital.
"I had to make a choice. I left the house with my girls and I haven't seen my husband since," Neera said.
He married another woman and refused to give any financial support to his daughters. Neera worked incessantly to provide for them: "I used to struggle for shoes, socks, uniforms. Sometimes I couldn't put two square meals a day on the table."
Pooja Chopra had nothing to say to her father, who "does not exist" for her.
"I don't even know if my father knows it is me, his daughter, who has set out to conquer the world. Today, when people call to congratulate me, it's not me they pay tribute to, but to [my mother's] life and her struggle. She's the true woman of substance," Pooja Chopra said. (ANI)

Revenge for Miss India

2009-05-02T22:51:00.000-07:00

The Story Rewritten By Nicola Smith

WHEN Pooja Chopra was 20 days old, her mother Neera Chopra was forced to make a choice - kill her child or forfeit her marriage.
Neera Chopra decided to keep her daughter, defying the wishes of a bullying husband who wanted the baby destroyed. She knew she would be thrown out of the family home.
Twenty-three years later, Pooja Chopra’s survival is being celebrated throughout India. Now a vivacious young woman, last month she won a beauty contest to become Miss India World. She has also become a symbol for the campaign against a tradition that values boys above girls; it is said this has led to an imbalance in the ratio of Indian men to women and to social problems.
“When my mum walked out on my dad, she said to him, ‘One day this girl will make me proud’.
All my life I’ve wanted my mum to be proud of the decision that she chose me,” Pooja said last week.
Neera has been thrust into the limelight by her daughter’s success. She has been dubbed Mother India and has already been approached by one Bollywood director who wants to film her story.
For Neera, the memory of her husband’s cruelty remains a “nightmare”. He had a respectable job but was a philanderer, prone to domestic violence. After the birth of her first child, a girl named Shubhra, he made her life a misery.
When she became pregnant again, seven years later, Neera clung to the hope that if the baby was a boy her marriage could be saved. Instead she had Pooja. Her husband and his relatives refused to visit the baby in hospital.
“I had to make a choice,” Neera said. “I left the house with my girls and I haven’t seen my husband since.”
He married another woman and refused to give any financial support to his daughters. Neera worked incessantly to provide for them: “I used to struggle for shoes, socks, uniforms. Sometimes I couldn’t put two square meals a day on the table.”
Pooja had nothing to say to her father, who “does not exist” for her. “I don’t even know if my father knows it is me, his daughter, who has set out to conquer the world,” she said.
“Today, when people call to congratulate me, it’s not me they pay tribute to, but to [my mother’s] life and her struggle. She’s the true woman of substance.”

Times Online UK

Pooja and Neera Chopra

2009-05-02T01:24:00.001-07:00

Pooja Chopra with Her Mom Neera Chopra

Shubhra Mendonca, Pooja Chopra's older sister

2009-05-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Shubhra, Pantaloons Femina Miss India World Pooja Chopra’s elder sister, remembers their mother sleeping hungry, tying a dupatta around her stomach, after feeding her daughters. Now a mother to a daughter herself, she believes that girls are the best.

Shubhra Mendonca, Pooja Chopra's older sister, is playing with her daughter in her home in Mumbai. Her husband, Agnelo, a merchant naval officer, is away on the ship. "I’m so thrilled; I feel like I myself have achieved something," she chirps.
While Pooja Chopra was a baby who remembers nothing of her father's brutality towards her mother, Shubhra, who was seven when her mother walked out, remembers it all too clearly. "He used to hammer my mother... When I used to try to save her, he would burn out his cigarette on my hands." The reason she remembers, Shubhra says, is because she still has the burn scars.
"My father was a commander in the Indian Navy. Later, when we left, we heard that he had taken voluntary retirement and joined the Merchant Navy and was a captain there. At that point his salary was no less than a lakh of rupees — and I'm talking 20 years ago. I thought once, when I had come to the Taj in Mumbai for some training, that I glimpsed him somewhere, but I couldn't be sure and I put it out of my head."
Shubhra was in charge of Pooja Chopra's studies. She proudly says, “Her friends would be scared to come home when I was there because I was very particular about her studies. She was a brilliant child. She broke a 25-year-old record at St Thomas Academy — nobody had ever scored such high marks. In Mount Carmel, she was head girl."
Shubhra's childhood was not much fun, "While the other children played, I worked. I would wake up each morning and distribute newspapers.”
Now a mother to a girl child herself, she says, “I want to be the kind of mother my mother was to us. I remember her giving us all the food in the house — we never slept hungry — and tying a dupatta around her stomach. She would say 'my stomach is paining', but I knew."
Now a stay-at-home mom, with an adoring husband who says he is father to Pooja Chopra too, she says, "I want to give my daughter everything I never had in life and more."
"Today, because she is in this position, people are coming to know. But otherwise this is the suffering women go through. I can tell you today — girls are the best. Only a girl child can have the courage to stand up and have the determination to make her mother proud.

on a day like today

2009-04-29T03:38:00.000-07:00

When Pooja Chopra's Mom told her touching story to the world, people reacted in emotive manners, this is how Pooja Chopra feels at that moment. She writes...

Never ever saw this comin... so many people appreciating mom 4her courage,her efforts calling her a hero in true sense.theres nothing more i cud ve ever asked god for... i cant explain how i feel when i receive so many calls,msgs,mails,scraps all saluting my mom for facing the toughest of times wit her head held high.she truely serves as an inspiuration to millions across d globe.. mom still cant believe all this is happenin wit her shes very overwhelmed but the simple lady tat she is still takes d bus to office till today.. infact had a tiff wit her this morn where i asked her to take a cab or a rick, but pat comes the reply "50rupay mei 3din ka milk aataa hai y should i waste d money when bus takes only rs12".. wish she cud understand how i feel n how i want to bring the whole world to her feet now tat i can.. but mommy she vill never change she vill always b d simple salwaar kameez lady always preparing for d rainy days!! love you mom

Written By: Pooja Chopra

Public Reaction on Mom's Story

2009-04-29T03:28:00.000-07:00

“I feel I’m on some other planet,” says Pantaloons Femina Miss India World Pooja Chopra to see how people reacted on her Mom's touching story.

The girl is overwhelmed with the responses that have come in after her mother spoke about her struggle as a single parent in Times Life, the Times of India’s Sunday supplement.
Pooja Chopra says, “We never saw this coming. Till yesterday this was just our lives. That’s it. I get goose-bumps reading mails from people around this country. At one point, I thought to myself ‘Has God given us too much suddenly?’ I didn’t realise my mother’s story touched so many people’s lives.”
When Pooja was born, her mother was asked to make a choice between her daughters and marriage. Her mother Neera Chopra chose to walk out with her daughters, head held high.
Confesses Pooja Chopra, “I had always wanted to make my mother proud because frankly, I always felt responsible that her separation from her husband happened because of me. I wanted to make up for it.”
Her mother, too, she says, is trying to absorb it all. Reveals Pooja, “People have called her an icon, said she needs to be felicitated, to be honoured. She doesn’t know how to take it. Someone from Chennai wants to do a book on her, a little three-year-old girl in the colony came and asked her ‘Aunty aapne paper mein kya likha ki padhkar papa rone lage?’ It’s unbelievable! I’m so glad her story has inspired them. And I will continue to do everything I can to make her proud.”
In her blog, Pooja has written about what makes her mother special. “The simple lady that she is, she still takes the bus to office till today,” she writes. When Pooja asked her why she couldn’t take a cab or autorickshaw instead, her mother replied that it would cost her Rs 50 — the cost of milk for three days — whereas the bus ticket cost only Rs 12!
Pooja Chopra writes, “I wish she could understand how I want to bring the whole world to her feet now that I can.”

Story of Pooja Chopra's Mom

2009-04-26T05:28:00.000-07:00

I don’t know where to begin... they were terrible times. My husband was well-placed, but the marriage had begun to sink almost as soon as it began. Like most women do, I tried to work against all the odds.
My in-laws insisted everything would be alright if I had a son. My first child was a daughter, and that didn’t do me any good... but I couldn’t walk out. I had lost my father; my brother was in a not-so-senior position in Bata. I didn’t want to be a burden on my family and continued to live in my marital home in Kolkata.
I looked after my mother-in-law, who was suffering from cancer, and while bathing her, I would tell myself she would bless me and put things right.
I don’t know how I tolerated it all. The least a man can do, if he must philander, is to not flaunt his women in his wife’s face then began the manhandling. I still wanted my marriage to survive. I was a pure vegetarian and learnt to cook non-vegetarian delicacies thinking it would please him.
Then, I was pregnant again. When Pooja Chopra was eight months in my womb, my husband brought a girl to the house and announced he would marry her. I thought of killing myself. I hung on the slight hope that if the baby was a boy, my marriage could be saved.
When Pooja Chopra was born a girl, for three days, nobody came to the hospital. There was a squadron leader’s wife on the opposite bed, who was kind enough to give me baby clothes for Pooja Chopra to wear. When she was 20 days old, I had to make a choice. I left the house with my girls — Pooja Chopra and Shubra, who was seven then. I haven’t seen my husband since. I promised myself, even if we had just one roti, we would share it, but together.
I began life in Mumbai with the support of my mother, brother, who was by then married. It wasn’t the ideal situation, especially when he had children — space, money, everything was short. I began work at the Taj Colaba and got my own place. How did I manage? Truth be told, I would put a chatai on the floor, leave two glasses of milk and some food, and bolt the door from outside before going to work. I would leave the key with the neighbours and tell the kids to shout out to them when it was time to leave for school.
Their tiny hands would do homework on their own, feed themselves on days that I worked late. My elder daughter Shubhra would make Pooja Chopra do her corrections... This is how they grew up. At a birthday party, Pooja Chopra would not eat her piece of cake, but pack it and bring it home to share with her sister. When Shubhra started working, she would skip lunch and pack a chicken sandwich that she would slip in her sister’s lunchbox the next day.
I used to pray, “God, punish me for my karma, but not my innocent little kids. Please let me provide them the basics.” I used to struggle for shoes, socks, uniforms. I was living in Bangur Nagar, Goregaon. Pooja Chopra would walk four bus stops down to the St Thomas Academy. Then, too little to cross the road, she would ask a passerby to help her. I had to save the bus money to be able to put some milk in their bodies.
Life began to change when I got a job for Rs 6,000 at the then Goa Penta. Mr Chhabra, the owner, and his wife, were kind enough to provide a loan for me. I sent my daughters to my sister’s house in Pune, with my mother as support. I spent four years working in Goa while I saved to buy a small one-bedroom house in Pune (where the family still lives). I would work 16-18 hours a day, not even taking weekly offs to accumulate leave and visit my daughters three or four times a year.
Once I bought my house and found a job in Pune, life began to settle. I worked in Hotel Blue Diamond for a year and then finally joined Mainland China — which changed my life. The consideration of the team and management brought me the stability to bring them up, despite late hours and the travelling a hotelier must do.
Shubhra got a job in Hotel Blue Diamond, being the youngest employee there while still in college, and managed to finish her Masters in commerce and her BBM. Today, she is married to a sweet Catholic boy who is in the Merchant Navy and has a sweet daughter.
I continue to finish my day job and come home and take tuitions, as I have done for all these years. I also do all my household chores myself.
Through the years, Shubhra has been my anchor and Pooja Chopra, the rock. Pooja Chopra’s tiny hands have wiped away my tears when I broke down. She has stood up for me, when I couldn’t speak for myself. Academically brilliant, she participated in all extra-curricular activities. When she needed high heels to model in, she did odd shows and bought them for herself.
When I saw Pooja Chopra give her speech on TV, I knew it came from her heart. I could see the twinkle in her eye. And I thought to myself as she won “My God, this is my little girl.” God was trying to tell me something.
Today, I’ve no regrets. I believe every cloud has a silver lining. As a mother, I’ve done nothing great.

‘I won due to my mother’s karma’
Pantaloons Femina Miss India Pooja Chopra’s mother promised ‘one day; this girl will make me proud’. Pooja Chopra speaks on fulfilling that promise... When I was 20 days old, my mother was asked to make a choice. It was either me — a girl child, or her husband. She chose me. As she walked out she turned around and told her husband, ‘One day, this girl will make me proud’. That day has come. Her husband went on to marry a woman who gave him two sons. Today, as I stand here a Miss India, I don’t even know if my father knows that it is me, his daughter, who has set out to conquer the world, a crown on my head. Our lives have not been easy, least so for my mother. Financially, emotionally, she struggled to stay afloat, to keep her job and yet allow us to be the best that we could be. I was given only one condition when I started modelling — my grades wouldn’t drop.
All the girls in the pageant worked hard, but my edge was my mother’s sacrifice, her karma. Today, when people call to congratulate me, it’s not me they pay tribute to, but to her life and her struggle. She’s the true Woman of Substance. She is my light, my mentor, my driving force. My win was merely God’s way of compensating her.

Pooja Chopra Bikini

2009-04-26T01:07:00.000-07:00

Pooja Chopra Bikini

Pooja Chopra in Bikini and Swimwears

Hobbies and Interests of Pooja Chopra

2009-04-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

Lets know about the hobbies and interests of Beauty Princess Pooja Chopra

Favourite Beauty Queens of Pooja Chopra
Aishwarya Rai for her beauty and grace
Priyanka Chopra for her fitness
Sushmita Sen for her confidence
Lara Dutta for the dignified and elegant human being she is
Favourite Destinations
Mauritius and Seychelles
Favourite Perfume
212, Jadore
Favourite Singer
Atif Aslam
Favourite Colour
Turquoise and pink
Favourite Food
Dal makhani, rajma chawal and any such Punjabi home cooked food
Favourite Music
Soft rock and romantic numbers.
Other Hobbies and Interests
Kickboxing, parasailing, paragliding, watching TV

Family, Mom and Crown

2009-04-09T04:32:00.000-07:00

When Pooja Chopra, crowned as Miss India World, has dedicated the crown to her mother who single-handedly brought her up. But the 23-year-old is also grateful to other mentors, some of whom chipped in for free because she didn't have the funds.
"The last 23 years have not been kind to my mother. Bringing up two girls (Pooja and her sister) was not an easy task," Pooja Chopra told IANS in an interview over phone from Mumbai.
"For me, she is the women of substance and this title is dedicated to her because she never stopped me from doing what I wanted. Her only condition was that I should not neglect my studies."
"Being a single mother is not at all easy, she has sacrificed a lot. Yet she did her best to give us right values. Today I am here because of her faith in me. She was living this dream with me. Right now she is on cloud nine and I am glad that I have made her proud," added Pooja Chopra who won the title Sunday.
The top 20 participants of the 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India (PFMI) were groomed by a panel of experts, including model-turned-actor-turned-choreographer Marc Robinson, ramp walk trainer Alicia Raut and diction expert Sabira Merchant for almost a month.
"Marc Robinson played a pivotal role in my victory because there were days when I had almost given up. I was bogged down by constant pressure and bundles of expectations from everyone. It was really tough but Marc pulled me up and constantly motivated me to believe in myself," said Chopra.
Chopra was also the winner of the PFMI East contest that was held in February where she had met Robinson for the first time.
"Marc knew my capabilities ever since I won the PFMI East contest; hence he had loads of expectations from me. He just told me one thing - 'You can do it, just believe in yourself and rest will follow'," she added.
This Pune-based girl also thanked her fitness instructor, designer and grooming teacher for believing in her talent and sharing her dream.
"I didn't have adequate funds to get myself trained under the top most fitness expert of Pune - Umesh Mohite. When he told me his fees, I was disappointed and came back home.
"To my surprise, he called me back after two days and said that he knew I have the potential to make it and wanted to train me and believe me he hasn't charged me anything," Chopra said.
"Similarly my designer Priyanka Rajeev sponsored some of my dresses when I decided to participate in the Miss India contest. I have got loads of love and support from my native place and I am glad that I have made them proud," she added.
Chopra was also the winner of 2009 PFMI Miss Beautiful Smile and Beautiful Body and co-winner of the Miss Talented titles.
What does she want to do once she goes back home?
"In the past three days, I have spoken to my mother only for 30 minutes. The first thing I would do is sit and chat with my mom. Also, I owe a lot to everyone - be it my friends trainers, they have believed in me. So now it is celebration time for everyone," Chopra elucidated.
Chopra is also in no mood to sit back and relax, as her next target will be to win the Miss World title because now her dream also carries the aspirations of millions of Indians. The pageant will be held later this year in Johannesburg, South Africa.
"The coming months will involve rigorous training sessions, loads of preparations as now I am representing India. I have already pulled up my socks," she said.
How much has life changed after the win?
"Change is an understated word, life has transformed completely and I'm not at all complaining. I am enjoying every bit of attention. Imagine I was just like a girl next door till this win happened," Pooja Chopra said.

Winning Moments

2009-04-09T04:11:00.000-07:00

Pooja Chopra, the winner of the coveted Miss India World title to find out what that experience was like. Of course, that's not all. We got up close and personal with the beauty queen to get to know the real Pooja Chopra better. Here's what she had to say -
On winning the Miss India World title... I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real and I wasn't dreaming. In fact, when Parvathi Omanakuttan was crowning me, I was actually losing balance and she was wondering what was wrong with me. I had to tell her that I can't hold myself. I was elated. It's a dream come true!
Before the next pageant... I'm going home to Poona. I am really missing my mom. My family and friends can't wait to have me back. They are planning parties galore for me, may be even a picnic to Lavassa again.
I'm going to have a month's break at least before I start gearing up for the Miss World contest. So I will use this time to catch up on all the movies I've missed and binge on all the chocolate brownies, pizzas and ice creams that I was not allowed to eat all this while.

Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2009

2009-04-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

When Pooja Chopra has been crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2009 is on top of the world. All geared up for the journey ahead, Pooja Chopra shares her excitement...
How did you react when your name was announced for the Miss India World crown? Whom do you consider your lucky charm?
My heart skipped a beat; my brain stopped working and I couldn’t even stand straight. It was such an emotional moment for me. I was happy that I have made it to the crown. It’s my mother’s faith that plays the lucky charm for me. While I was on stage, I continuously looked at her.
How do you plan to celebrate your success?
I have so many professional commitments lined up for next one month that I really have no time to chill-out. I just plan to hog on some good food at the moment. By any chance, if I would get time, I would rush back home and celebrate with my city folks. I received nearly two thousand messages after I won the title.
Having reached the top-five finalists, were you confident enough that you would make it to the title.
No, I wasn’t expecting anything. I was just living and enjoying the moment.
What do you think matters? Winning or participating?
God was kind that I won. But, I would have been really depressed if I would have lost the crown. Hours of training everyday and millions of dreams just didn’t let me relax for a moment.
What according to you is the best trait that helped you bag this crown and made you stand apart from other contestants?
All the participants equally deserved to be there. It’s just Karma and faith that matters at the end of the day. But I think all the contestants should feel proud, as they are better than those ten thousand girls who were not fortunate enough to make it to the pageant. It’s not the end, but just the beginning.
With a chance to represent India at the international pageant Miss World, what apprehensions are ruling the mind? How do you plan to prepare for the bigger thing?
I have to portray India in the best possible way. It’s an international pageant and I will be the brand ambassador of India. It is such a huge responsibility, as people will see India through me. Therefore, I plan to work hard to bring home the crown and make my country proud.
We see most beauty queens either venturing into Bollywood, making a career in modeling or settling abroad, where do we see you proceeding from here?
There is no time to think about anything at the moment. Since I won the title, I have just got two hours of sleep. Anyways my dream was to become Miss India, not an actress. Now I just want to win the international title.
Who’s your favorite Indian beauty queen?
I am not being modest, but I really admire all of them. Aishwarya for her beauty and grace, Priyanka for her fitness, Sushmita for her confidence and Lara for the dignified and elegant human being she is.
What have you learned from your Miss India journey?
I fee,l I have undergone a complete transformation. This one month of training has brought me closer to my inner self. Initially, I used to think myself to be emotionally weak and fragile. And then Miss India came as a roller-coaster ride, which made me stronger, not only physically, but emotionally too.

Mom - Behind the Success

2009-04-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

Beaming over her outstanding feat; Pooja Chopra, the newly crowned Miss India World can’t stop counting her blessings and thanking the ones who made her fairytale come true. Gushing with pride, the 23-year-old lissome beauty, thanked her mother with tearful eyes as she gracefully carried the much-eyed tiara.
With a smile that can launch a thousands ships and an hourglass figure sculpted to perfection, the young lass was an instant hit with the crowd and the judges. A perfect combination of beauty and brains, the sassy beauty won much applaud for Pooja Chopra spontaneous heartfelt replies.
Standing tall and gleaming with pride, the soft-spoken poised beauty coyly thanked her mother. Speaking to reporters, Pooja said, "I would not have achieved this without the support of my mother. I have been raised by a single mother. My mom has helped me achieve all my dreams. This is as big a crown and victory for her, as it’s for me."
Recognising talent early, the judges did have an eye for Pooja Chopra right from the start of the competition, but the answer that was her answer to one common question asked to all the finalists that did the trick. The question was - "What was the one thing you would ask God if you met him, and why? ", to which Pooja had replied, " I would ask why certain children were deprived of the love of a mother".
An immediate hit with the jury, the answer bagged Pooja Chopra the prestigious title. Done with the celebrated home pageant, Chopra isn’t sitting back on her present glory. The stunner has already set her sights higher and is looking forward to bringing home international acclaims.
Well, with her stars shining bright on her, we wish this beauty many more tiaras and titles.

All About Pooja Chopra - Autobiography

2009-04-06T04:15:00.000-07:00

Hi, I am Pooja Chopra, I was born on May 3rd, 1985, I wanted to be a teacher, piolet, Miss India or a women like Kiran Bedi. I thought my this dream of being a Miss India would fade one day like others, but it didn't happened. My this dream of being Miss India grow up along with me from my childhood. And to chase this dream I reached till here. And I have achieved the crown of Miss India world 2009. I am simply hard-working person. I do trust on my mom's blessings, support of my fans and my hard-work.

Dream of Miss India

Since Femina's inception i've known them to be contemperory women of the 21st century, who are the blazing combination beauty, intellectual and talent, who goes on and make country proud at the international stage. And i known i can do it!

Peace... Pooja Chopra

Photos

2009-04-05T19:49:00.000-07:00

Pooja Chopra Photos

Pooja Chopra as Kashmir Girl
Pooja Chopra Photos in Lehnga
Pooja Chopra Photos when Crown as Miss India World
Pooja Chopra Photos of Happy Moments
Pooja Chopra Photos in White Dress

Pooja Chopra Photos at Vibrance 2009 Fashion Show

Miss India World 2009 Pooja Chopra Photos and Picture

Biography

2009-04-05T19:25:00.000-07:00

Pooja Chopra was crowned the Pantaloons Femina Miss India-World 2009 on April 5th, 2009. Pooja Chopra is resident of Pune in Maharashtra. She was born on May 3, 1985 in Kolkata. Pooja Chopra is 5'8" tall and about 50 Kg. heavy in weight. Her vital statistics is around 33-26-36 in inches.

Pooja Chopra trained by Pageant Coach Ritika Ramtri Kumar of The Tiara wins Femina Miss India East 2009. Pooja Chopra trained by Pageant Coach Ritika Ramtri Kumar, Pageant Coach of The Tiara won Femina Miss India East 2009 on 17th February 2009, at Kolkata. She also won Miss Perfect 10; Miss Catwalk and Nakshatra Miss Sparkling Beauty. 22 year old Pooja who is 5.8 inches tall has done commercials for Mr Muscle, Big 97 FM, Dabur Honey, Coke (Pakistan) and EZone. She has also walked the ramp for Gitanjali, D'Damas, Manish Malhotra, Vikram Phadnis, Wendell Rodericks, Mihika Mirpuri, and Roberto Cavalli. She was Navy Queen 2007 1st Runner Up, NDA Queen 2004 1st Runner Up and has also acted in Fashion the movie. Pooja's wardrobe was designed by Fashion Designer Priyanka Rajiv, who has also designed a saree for Angelina Jolie when she was visiting India. Umesh Mohite, Facility Head ? World Gym (Pune Branch) took care of her physical fitness.