Lara Dutta

At Miss Universe 2000 in Cyprus, she achieved the highest score in the swimsuit competition and her finalist interview score was the highest individual score in any category in the history of the Miss Universe contest, as her interview saw a majority of the judges giving her the maximum 9.99 mark.[12]

During the final question and answer round, the top 3 contestants were each asked the same question by the host, Sinbad: “Right now there is a protest that has been staged in outside the stadium posing pageants as an affront to women. Convince them that they are wrong.” To which Dutta replied:

“Pageants like Miss Universe gives us young women a platform to foray in the fields that we want to and forge ahead, be it entrepreneurship, be it the armed forces, be it politics. It gives us a platform to voice our choices and opinions and it makes us strong and independent that we are today."[13]

At the end of the event, Dutta was crowned as Miss Universe 2000, by the outgoing titleholder Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana. Dutta's win led to her appointment as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador in 2001.[14] In the same year, Priyanka Chopra and Dia Mirza won their respective Miss World and Miss Asia Pacific titles which gave India a rare triple victory in the world of beauty pageants.[15] During her reign as Miss Universe, she visited 42 countries.[12][16]

Dutta was also elected as 'Miss Grand Slam 2000' by the pageant portal, Global Beauties besting all the delegates from the Grand Slam beauty pageants of the year 2000. She is the first beauty pageant winner from India to win this title.[17] She is the second woman from India to be crowned Miss Universe, and has been the only delegate from India to win the crown since. She received the highest score in the swimsuit competition and her finale interview score is the highest individual score in any category in the history of the Miss Universe contest.[18]

She has been a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador since 2001, shortly after her Miss Universe win. Dutta stated that - "Celebrities with the power to affect their impressionable minds therefore have a moral responsibility to impart positive messages. I am committed to using any influence I may have to do just that as a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)".[19]

She signed up for the Tamil film, Arasatchi in 2002, but due to financial problems, it was only released in mid-2004. She made her Hindi debut in 2003 with the film Andaaz which was a box office success and won her a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. However, In the movie Dutta's voice was dubbed by Mona Shetty as the filmmakers wanted two distinct characters for the female leads and they needed Kajal, Dutta's character, to have a high-pitched voice.[20] At the beginning of 2004, Dutta made a cameo appearance in Khakee in the song Aisa Jadoo which went on to become a chart buster upon release . She then went on to appear in Bardaasht, which failed to do well at the box office. Her next release Aan: Men at Work was also a flop in India. Insan, Elaan and Jurm also ended up failing to do well at the box office. She later appeared in Masti which did well at the box office.

Lara Dutta revealed in an interview that she was offered a role in The Matrix franchise but turned down the offer due to her mum's illness at the time.[21]

Before making her debut in movies, Dutta made an appearance in singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya's video of the song titled 'Tu Chalu Hai Re'.

In 2005, Dutta appeared in Kaal, which was a moderate success at the box office. Dutta then appeared in 2005's biggest hit, No Entry opposite actors Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Fardeen Khan, Bipasha Basu, Esha Deol and Celina Jaitley. She next appeared in Dosti: Friends Forever which was only an average grosser in India but became the biggest hit of the year in overseas markets. Dutta along with Sania Mirza participated in Kaun Banega Crorepati (season 2) as celebrity guests, on 13 November 2005.[22]

Lara Dutta modeling in 2005

Lara Dutta made a cameo in the Yash Raj Films film Fanaa in a scene that featured both leads Aamir Khan and Kajol. Dutta stated in an interview that she agreed to feature in Fanaa as she had previously turned down a cameo in Yash Raj's Hum Tum.[23]

In December 2006, Dutta played Munni, a lady with suicidal tendencies alongside Akshay Kumar in Bhagam Bhag, which was one of the biggest hits of the year, as it collected over ₹400 million (US$5.6 million) in India alone. Her first release of 2007 was Shaad Ali's Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. The film was a box office Well And overseas, especially in the United Kingdom.[24] Dutta however received praise for her performance as Anaida in the movie[25]

Her later release, Partner where she starred opposite Salman Khan became a "Blockbuster" in India and became the third biggest grosser of the year.[26] Dutta made a special appearance in Om Shanti Om. Dutta also presented a documentary film titled 'Sold: An MTV EXIT Special by Charmaine Choo' which followed the tragedy of trafficking in South Asia where thousand of young girls and boys are sold into modern-day slavery.[27]

In 2008, Dutta lent her voice for the animated film, Jumbo. However, the film failed to do well at the box office. She made a special appearance in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi in the song Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte where she paid tribute to Helen, colorfully dressed, with jewels and feathers in a high hair bun. The underlying tune is "O Haseena Zulfon Wale" from the 1966 movie Teesri Manzil.

Her 2009 release, Blue, was one of the most expensive movies of Indian cinema. Dutta had initially walked away from the project because the movie was entirely shot in the ocean and she didn't know swimming. However the male protagonist Akshay Kumar encouraged her in learning how to swim and she immediately started training with a special coach. Blue was released on 16 October 2009.[28] She stated that "The moment I got to know of it, I called Akshay and told him that I wouldn't be able to accept the assignment. He knew the reason behind my decision. Not many people are aware that I had almost drowned while shooting for Andaaz, Akshay had rescued me. When I reminded him I couldn't swim, he told me to forget my phobia and learn swimming pronto," said Dutta. "Today, I feel Blue has not merely made me overcome my phobias, but has also taught me something that will stay with me for the rest of my life".[28] Despite a promising opening, the film failed to do well at the box office.

Lara Dutta at the launch of Forbes Life magazine in India

She also appeared in Do Knot Disturb, which took a good start at the box office, however dropped in the coming days and failed to do well. Her 2010 release Housefull was a major commercial success across India. She starred opposite Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Jiah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh. It was the fifth biggest hit in the country at that time as it collected ₹1.14 billion (US$16 million) at the box office.[29]

Lara Dutta walks for Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellery in 2013

In 2011, her first movie as a producer, Chalo Dilli was released. The film was a decent success, as it was made on a modest budget of ₹50 million (US$700,000). Moreover, Dutta's performance in the film was praised by prominent critics.[30] She did an item number in the song 'Zara Dil Ko Thaam Lo' alongside Shah Rukh Khan and had an extended special appearance in the movie Don 2 and the film was a major success especially Lara's item number. [31]

Following her post-pregnancy break from Hindi cinema, Dutta signed a movie titled David. Filming started by August 2012 and she will have a very important role in the movie according to its director, Bejoy Nambiar.[32] The film released 1 February 2013 and receive mixed reviews. She signed a No Entry sequel titled No Entry Mein Entry.

In 2015, she starred in the movie Singh Is Bliing. The film became a financial success, grossing over ₹1.16 billion worldwide.[33][34] Her comic timing in the movie was praised by critics[35] She played the role of 'Leena Becker' in the movie Fitoor, released in 2016.[36] She played a crucial supporting role in the sports drama film Azhar[37] In 2018, she appeared in the film Welcome to New York.[38]

In June 2019, Dutta appeared in the ITV 6-part drama, Beecham House where she played the role of Begum Samru.[39]

In 2006, Lara Dutta made an appearance in the show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal hosted by actress Simi Garewal. Dutta has made three appearance in Koffee with Karan hosted by film producer and director Karan Johar. She first made her appearances in the first season alongside Bipasha Basu and second season with Katrina Kaif. Her last appearance on the show till date was in 2010 alongside her husband Mahesh.

Lara Dutta also made an appearance in the season 1 finale of 10 Ka Dum hosted by Salman Khan alongside fellow actress Rani Mukerji.[40]