Manushi Chhillar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manushi Chhillar
Chhillar in 2025
Born	(1997-05-14) 14 May 1997 (age 28) Rohtak, Haryana, India
Alma mater	Bhagat Phool Singh Medical College
Occupation	Model actress
Years active	2017–present
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Title	Femina Miss India 2017 Miss World 2017
Signature

Manushi Chhillar (born May 14, 1997) is an Indian actress, model, and the winner of the Miss World 2017 competition. She first won the Femina Miss India 2017 pageant, representing her home state of Haryana. She then went on to become the sixth woman from India to be crowned Miss World.

Chhillar began her acting career in 2022 with the historical movie Samrat Prithviraj. She has also starred in other films like The Great Indian Family (2023) and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024).

Early Life and School

Chhillar was born on May 14, 1997, in Rohtak, Haryana, to a Haryanvi family. Her parents, Mitra Basu Chhillar and Neelam Chhillar, are both doctors. Her father worked for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and her mother is a department head at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences.

Chhillar was a bright student at St. Thomas' School in New Delhi. She was the top student in India in her Class 12 English exam and scored 96 percent overall. She passed the medical entrance exam on her first try and was studying to become a doctor at Bhagat Phool Singh Medical College before she entered the world of pageants.

Besides being a great student, Chhillar is also a trained Kuchipudi dancer. She learned from the famous dancers Raja and Radha Reddy.

Journey in Pageants

Femina Miss India 2017

Chhillar's journey into beauty pageants began in 2016. She won a campus competition which led her to the Femina Miss India pageant. In April 2017, she was crowned Femina Miss India Haryana.

During the national competition, she represented Haryana. She also won the special title of Miss Photogenic. In one of the rounds, she was asked about her opinion on banning surrogacy (a process where a woman carries a baby for another couple). She answered:

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

In the final round, the top five contestants were asked what lesson they learned from spending 30 days together. Chhillar said:

These days that I have spent with my fellow contestants has been the most dynamic period of my life... The one belief that I would take back with me is that, yes...I can change the world. When I entered Miss India, there was only passion. However, through this journey, I acquired a vision in life.

Her thoughtful answers helped her win the main title of Femina Miss India World 2017. This victory gave her the chance to represent India at the Miss World pageant.

Miss World 2017

Chhillar (center) with Miss World Indonesia 2017, Achintya Holte Nilsen (left), and Miss World 2016, Stephanie Del Valle (right), in 2018.

At the Miss World 2017 competition, Chhillar stood out in many rounds. She was a winner of the Head-to-Head Challenge and a co-winner of the Beauty with a Purpose award.

Her "Beauty with a Purpose" project was called Project Shakti. The project's goal was to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene. She traveled to about 20 villages and helped educate over 5,000 women.

In the final question-and-answer round, she was asked which profession should get the highest salary. She replied:

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

On November 18, 2017, in Sanya, China, Chhillar was crowned Miss World 2017. She was the first Indian to win the title in 17 years, following Priyanka Chopra in 2000.

Her Year as Miss World

Chhillar at her first press conference as Miss World in Mumbai.

As Miss World, Chhillar traveled the world to support social causes. Her "Project Shakti" received support from the government of Haryana, which promised to provide free sanitary napkins to girls in all government schools.

She traveled to countries like the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the United States, Brazil, and South Africa. She worked on projects related to feminine hygiene, children's health, and leprosy awareness.

In South Africa, she helped launch a unit to make low-cost sanitary pads. This event was part of the celebration of Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday. She also helped judge the Femina Miss India 2018 pageant, where she crowned her successor, Anukreethy Vas.

Chhillar (right) with her Miss India successor Anukreethy Vas (left) in 2018.

Her reign as Miss World ended on December 8, 2018, when she crowned Vanessa Ponce of Mexico as the new Miss World.

Acting Career

Chhillar made her acting debut in the 2022 film Samrat Prithviraj, where she played the role of Princess Sanyogita opposite actor Akshay Kumar. She said playing the role was a "huge responsibility."

In 2023, she appeared in the comedy film The Great Indian Family with actor Vicky Kaushal. In 2024, she played a wing commander in the movie Operation Valentine and a captain in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.

Her first film of 2025 was Maalik, where she acted alongside Rajkummar Rao. She is also set to appear in the movie Tehran with John Abraham.

Social Work and Other Activities

Chhillar at a meeting with the Commission on Human Rights and Participatory Legislation (HRC).

Chhillar continues to be involved in social work. She has supported campaigns for menstrual hygiene, health, and fitness. She was appointed as an ambassador for a campaign in Haryana to fight anemia, a health condition common among women.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked with UNICEF to spread awareness about staying safe. She also worked with United Nations Women to help stop violence against women.

Chhillar has also started her own businesses. She co-founded Soma Wellness, a health and wellness brand. In 2024, she launched Dweep, a brand of swimwear and resort wear.

She has been a brand ambassador for many famous companies, including Adidas, Pantene, and Estée Lauder.

In the Media

Chhillar at an event in 2022

After winning Miss World, Chhillar became very popular. She has won several awards for her achievements, including a Special Achievement award at the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year awards in 2017.

In 2019, the animal rights organization PETA recognized her for promoting a vegetarian lifestyle. She has been a vegetarian her whole life.

In May 2023, she attended the famous Cannes Film Festival for the first time, which drew a lot of media attention.

Filmography

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Films

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref(s)
2022	Samrat Prithviraj	Sanyogita
2023	The Great Indian Family	Jasmeet Kaur Randhawa
2024	Operation Valentine	Aahna "Eva" Gill	Bilingual film
	Bade Miyan Chote Miyan	Captain Misha Kapoor
2025	Maalik	Shalini
TBA	Tehran	TBA	Post-production

Television

Awards

Film awards

Other awards and recognition

See also

In Spanish: Manushi Chhillar para niños

• List of Indian film actresses
• List of Hindi film actresses