German-Indian Beauty Queen, Bollywood Star Dia Mirza

Bollywood star Dia Mirza (also called Diya and Dee) was born on December 9, 1981 to Frank Handrich and Bengali Hindu Deepa. In 2000, she won the titles Femina Miss India and Miss Asia Pacific (the same year when Larra Dutta became Miss Universe and Priyanka Chopra won the Miss World title).   

Her father was a German graphic and industrial fair designer, architect, artist and interior designer from Munich (which explains her semi-Caucasian looks, making her appear like a Geena Davis or Julia Roberts look-a-alike. Her mother is currently a volunteer helping addicts and alcoholics, she was formerly an interior designer and landscaper. As could be seen in below photo: 

Dia Mirza made her debut with the film "Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein", where she was casted alongside R. Madhavan. Since then, she starred and guested in the following films:  "Deewaanapan" (2001), "Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge" and "Tehzeeb" (2002), "Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye" and "Dum" (2003), "Stop!", "Tumsa Nahin Dekha" and "Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na" in 2004, "Naam Gum Jaayega", "My Brother… Nikhil", "Blackmail", "Parineeta", "Dus", "Koi Mere Dil Mein Hai" in 2005, "Fight Club - Members Only", "Phir Hera Pheri", "Alag", "Lage Raho Munna Bhai", "Prateeksha" in 2006, "Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.", "Shootout at Lokhandwala", "Cash", "Heyy Babyy", "Om Shanti Om", "Dus Kahaniyaan" in 2007, "Krazzy 4", "Kissan", Jai Veeru", "Acid Factory", "Fruit and Nut", "Kurbaan" and "Luck By Chance" in 2009, "Hum Tum Aur Ghost", "Shoebite" in 2010, "Love Breakups Zindagi" in 2011, "Paanch Adhyay" in 2012 and "Hungame pe Hungama" in 2013.

Some say, despite several films under her belt, she is yet to really shine in the movie industry. But of course, beauty is only skin deep. What makes Dia Mirza really shine is her active involvement in community services and socio-civic work. She has been involved with Cancier Patients Aid Association, Spastics Society of India, PETA, CRY and NDTV Greenathon.

More photos of our featured Indian celebrity (click to enlarge):

source: Wikipedia, various forum posts

Indian Actress and Model Amrita Rao | Pictures | Video

We have to thank executives from Cadbury's Perk Karwa Chau and Bru Coffee for introducing lovely and cute Bollywood actress, Amrita Rao, to the public through their product advertisements. 

She has really come a long, long way! After her acting debut with Ab Ke Baras in 2002, her movies have captured the heart of millions, including this writer (who is really quite jealous of Shahid Kapoor, her partner in so many romantic movies, see fan video below) 

I patiently await Amrita Rao in two major big-budget films to be released this year (2013): Anil Sharma's Singh Sahab the Great opposite Sunny Deol, and Prakash Jha's Satyagraha.

Amrita was born to a Mangalorean Brahmin family in Mumbai, India. Her father owns an advertising company in Mumbai and also turned author in 2008. She speaks Hindi, English, Marathi, besides her mother tongue, Konkani. She attended the Canossa Convent High School (Mahim) in Mumbai, and later enrolled in Sophia College to pursue a degree in Psychology. Her younger sister, Preetika Rao, is a model and well-known film journalist and columnist.

More pictures of our featured Bollywood actress:

source: Wikipedia