Zoya Afroz (born 10 January 1994)[1] is an Indian actress, model and a beauty pageant titleholder. Afroz won the title of Miss India International 2021 competing at the Glamanand Supermodel India contest and will represent India at the Miss International 2022 beauty pageant in Japan.[2] Afroz was previously crowned as the second runner-up at Femina Miss India 2013.[3][4]

Zoya Afroz
Afroz (right) and Saqib Saleem at the 20th Screen Awards (2014) held in Mumbai.
Born (1994-01-10) 10 January 1994 (age 30)
NationalityIndian
Alma materMithibai College, Mumbai
Occupations
  • Actor
  • fashion model
  • beauty pageant titleholder
Years active1998 – present
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Title

Her first appearance was as a child artist in the television series Kora Kagaz in 1998 and continued to do so in films Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), Mann (1999) and Kuch Naa Kaho (2003). In 2014, Afroz made her Bollywood screen debut as an adult in the thriller film The Xposé, which emerged as a commercial success.[5] Afroz has also worked in various television commercials since she was a child artist.[4] Afroz promotes education for girls and offers help to women in marginalized sections in acquiring financial independence. She works towards aiding women to acquire basic knowledge and supports the rights of women to get equal opportunity.[6][7]

Early life and education

Originally hailing from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Zoya Afroz was born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in a Muslim family, to Shadaab and Saleha Afroz.[8][9] She started working in Indian films, television series and commercials since the age of three.[10] She attended R N Shah High School in Mumbai.[11] She subsequently attended Mithibai College in Vile Parle, Mumbai, where she acquired her Bachelor of Commerce degree.[12][13]

Career

1998–2005: (Beginnings)

Afroz started her career when she was 3 years old. She got her break from the Rasna-sponsored Mahasearch Contest at the age of 3, after which she was featured in a commercial for the same.[14] She appeared in the television series Kora Kagaz in 1998.[15] She was spotted by Rajshri Productions and was offered a role in Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999). She played the role of Neelam Kothari's daughter in the film, which was a commercial and box-office success.[16]

She later appeared in films like Mann (1999) and Kuch Naa Kaho (2003).[17] She then acted in the children's fantasy adventure television series Son Pari.[18] She played the role of young Goddess Parvati in DD National's series Jai Mata Ki which aired in the year 2000.[19] As a child, she has appeared in television commercials for several brands like Whirlpool, Shoppers Stop, Jatt Airways and New York Life Insurance.[20]

2012–present

At the age of 17, she worked in a Punjabi movie titled Sadi Gali Aaya Karo (2012).[21] As an adult, she made her Bollywood debut in 2014 film, The Xposé.[22] Taran Adarsh described her role by stating: “The leading lady, Zoya Afroz [as Chandni], looks glamorous and had enacted her parts in the film with confidence”.[23] She was later signed up in a Tamil movie titled Thamizhan Endru Sol, but the film was unreleased.[24]

Zoya walks the ramp in 2015 for a Global Peace Initiative programme at the Welingkar School in Mumbai.

In 2017, Afroz appeared as a lead alongside Himansh Kohli in the film Sweetiee Weds NRI.[25][26] She expressed - “I was waiting for such a film. So when it came, I grabbed it with both my hands. Earlier, the film I did has quite a serious role. This one is quite fun and I wanted to do something that could connect with the youth and I could play my age onscreen.”[27] She worked in a Tamil film Paamban in 2019.[28] She modelled for the 2020 edition of the annual Kingfisher Calendar in Western Cape, South Africa, and was featured in the March and June pages for the same.[29][30] She was cast as a lead in the Hindi film Kabaad - The Coin, along with Vivaan Shah. The film was released digitally on February 13, 2021, on Voot.[31] Afroz was signed up in a MX Player's thriller web show titled 'Matsya Kaand', and she will co-star alongside Ravi Dubey and Madhur Mittal.[32] She was selected as a main cast in a spy thriller called 'Mukhbir - The Story of a Spy'.[33]

Afroz has also been featured in television commercials and print ads for various brands and products, including Pond's,[34] KFC,[35] Asian Paints,[36] Parliament Basmati Rice,[37] OnePlus,[38] LG,[39] Maruti Suzuki Dzire[40] Century Plyboards and Coca-Cola.[41]

Pageantry

Femina Miss India

Afroz competed in the Femina Miss Indore 2013 contest at the age of 18, where she won the title. She acquired a direct entry as a contestant in the Femina Miss India 2013 pageant. At the end of the grand finale event held on 24 March 2013, in Yash Raj Studios, Mumbai, Afroz was crowned as the second runner-up by Rochelle Rao, Miss India International 2012 (and Top 15 of Miss International 2012).[42][43]

Afroz was initially considered to represent India at Miss International 2013 by the Miss India Organization.[44][45] However, subsequently when Miss Diva 2013 was organized, Gurleen Grewal, the edition's 1st runner-up was selected as Miss India International 2013.[46]

Glamanand Supermodel India

Afroz competed in the 2021 edition of the Glamanand Supermodel India pageant. The grand finale event was held at the Kingdom of Dreams, Gurgaon, Haryana in NCR Delhi on 21 August 2021.[47] There, she bagged three sub-titles, namely - Best in Evening Gown, Miss Glamorous Eyes and Top Model.[48]

During the final question and answer round of Femina Miss India 2017, the top 5 delegates were asked the same question - “What is the role of a beauty pageant in a country that lacks unity?”, to which Afroz responded:

"As someone who has dreamt to be on stage of such a prestigious pageant, I believe that beauty pageants give great opportunities to young women to excel in their career, and in whichever field they choose to pursue. Beauty pageants recognises that and gives them wings to fly and strengthen and empower them. So, I believe that in our country where we have so much unity, yet so much diversity, a beauty pageant brings girls from different cultures all together, and they get so much to learn from each other, as opposed to the countries which lacks unity. I really feel that pageants helps women to reach their highest potential, and makes them united.[48]"

At the end of the event, she was crowned as Miss India International 2021, besting 23 other contestants. Thereby, she will represent India at the Miss International 2022 pageant to be held during the fall of 2022, in Yokohama City, Japan.[49][2]

Filmography

Zoya (left) with Himansh Kohli at a promotional event for Sweetiee Weds NRI in 2017.

Films

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
FilmYearRoleLanguageNotesRef.
1999Hum Saath Saath HainRadhikaHindi[15]
Mann (film)Child Actor in SchoolHindi[17]
2001Sant GyaneshwarMuktaHindiDirected by Dharmesh Tiwari[50]
2003Kuch Naa KahoAaryaHindi[51]
2005From Tia With LoveTiaEnglish[50]
2012Sadi Gali Aaya KaroChannoPunjabi[52]
2014The XposéChandni RazaHindi[22]
2016Thamizhan Endru SolZoyaTamilUnreleased film[53]
2017Sweetiee Weds NRISweetieHindi[25]
2018Sugar FreeMonica TyagiHindiShort film[54]
2021Kabaad: The CoinRomaHindi[31]

Television

FilmYearRoleNotesRef.
1998Kora KagazChild ArtistAs a child artist[55]
2000Jai Mata KiNanhi Mata / Young Parvati[55]
2001Hum Saath Aath HaiLovely[17]
2004Son PariDimples[56]
2013Femina Miss India 2013Herself[57]
2014Comedy Nights with KapilHerself - GuestEpisode 82[58]
2020Kingfisher Calendar: The MakingHerselfDocumentary series[59]
[60]

Web series

FilmYearRoleStreaming serviceRef.
2021Matsya KaandUrvashiMX Player[32]
2022Mukhbir - The Story of a SpyJamilaZEE5[33]
2023Fireflies: Parth Aur JugnuNyasaZEE5

Music Videos

YearSong titleSingerRecord labelRef.
2021Dil Lai LaKulwinder BillaTimes Music[61]
Rab Kare Tu BhiYograj KoushalZee Music Company[62]
FerrariAnamikaKoco 7 Productions[63]
2020Galat BandeR. NaitWhite Hill Studios[64]
Suno NaArko and Neeti MohanGaana Originals[65]
2018Raati SaanuGajendra VermaSaga Music[66]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef.
2013Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar AwardsBeauty Queen of the YearN/AWon[67]
2014Life OK Screen AwardsBest Actress"The Xposé"Won[68]

References

  1. ^ Sen, Debarati (19 September 2017). "Zoya Afroz: I'm proud of the Miss India crown and my new house". The Times of India.
  2. ^ a b "Zoya Afroz crowned as Miss India International 2021". The Hans India. 24 August 2021.
  3. ^ Mitra, Ipshita (31 March 2013). "The women who've inspired Miss India 2013".
  4. ^ a b "Miss India International Zoya Afroz breaks 'pagent-before-film' formula". Indian Express. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  5. ^ "'The Xpose': Is all about style, glamour and secrets". Deccan Chronicle.
  6. ^ "Zoya Afroz, from Mumbai crowned as the Miss India International 2021". The Siasat Daily. 23 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Mumbai's Zoya Afroz is '21 Miss India International". The Hitavada. 24 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Bollywood Actress got Slammed as 'Anti-Muslim' for Posting Bikini Pics". East Coast Daily. 8 July 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  9. ^ Goyal, Samarth (20 May 2016). "When actor Zoya wasn't allowed to kiss onscreen by her mother". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Biodata of Zoya Afroz, actor and Miss India". Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Zoya Afroz - Femina Miss India Contestant Profile". Femina Miss India. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Former Miss India & Bollywood Actress, Zoya Afroz Reveals The Mystery Behind Winning The Title At Just 18!". 25 June 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  13. ^ Daliya Ghose (25 March 2013). "Miss India International Zoya Afroz worked with Aishwarya Rai, Karisma Kapoor". Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  14. ^ Mehak Anand (7 July 2018). "Bollywood Actress Zoya Afroz Got Slammed After Posting Bikini Picture, People Call Her 'Anti-Muslim'". Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  15. ^ a b "'हम साथ-साथ हैं' की यह बच्ची याद है? अब देखें कितनी ग्लैमरस दिखती हैं जोया अफरोज". Jansatta (in Hindi). 17 November 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
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  29. ^ "Kingfisher Calendar 2020". kingfishercalendar.com. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
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  32. ^ a b Suthar, Manisha (12 February 2021). "Ravi Dubey, Zoya Afroz and Madhur Mittal in MX Player's Kaand". Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  33. ^ a b "ZEE5 announces original espionage-drama series, 'Mukhbir - The Story of a Spy' on Independence Day". First Post. 16 August 2022.
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  39. ^ "LG Automatic Washing Machine Tvc - Zoya Afroz". Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  40. ^ "Maruti Suzuki Dzire TVC - Zoya Afroz". YouTube. 20 April 2015.
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  59. ^ "Lionsgate Play releases a mixed bag of exciting titles for March 2021". APN News. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
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  64. ^ "R Nait's 'Galat Bande' is a playlist staple". The Times of India. 4 February 2020.
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  66. ^ "Raati Saanu - Gajendra Verma Feat. Zoya Afroz". 28 August 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  67. ^ "Beauty Queen of the Year Award".
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