Zoya Afroz

Biography

Zoya Afroz (born 10 January 1994) is an Indian actress, model and a beauty pageant titleholder. She won the title of Miss India International, competing at the Glamanand Supermodel India 2021 contest and represented India at the Miss International 2022 beauty pageant in Japan. She was previously crowned as the second runner-up at Femina Miss India 2013. 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. Afroz has also worked in various television commercials since she was a child artist. Afroz promotes education for girls and offers help to women in marginalised sections in acquiring financial independence. She works towards aiding women to acquire basic knowledge and supports the rights of women to get equal opportunity.

== Early life and education == Originally hailing from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Zoya Afroz was born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, to Shadaab and Saleha Afroz. She started working in Indian films, television series and commercials since the age of three. She attended R N Shah High School in Mumbai. She subsequently attended Mithibai College in Vile Parle, Mumbai, where she acquired her Bachelor of Commerce degree.

== 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. She appeared in the television series Kora Kagaz in 1998. 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. She later appeared in films like Mann (1999) and Kuch Naa Kaho (2003). She then acted in the children's fantasy adventure television series Son Pari. She played the role of young Goddess Parvati in DD National's series Jai Mata Ki which aired in the year 2000. As a child, she has appeared in television commercials for several brands like Whirlpool, Shoppers Stop, Jatt Airways and New York Life Insurance.

=== 2012–present === At the age of 17, she worked in a Punjabi movie titled Sadi Gali Aaya Karo (2012). As an adult, she made her Bollywood debut in 2014 film, The Xposé. 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”. She was later signed up in a Tamil movie titled Thamizhan Endru Sol, but the film was unreleased.

In 2017, Afroz appeared as a lead alongside Himansh Kohli in the film Sweetiee Weds NRI. 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.” She worked in a Tamil film Paamban in 2019. 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. She was cast as a lead in the Hindi film Kabaad - The Coin, along with Vivaan Shah. The film was released digitally on 13 February 2021, on Voot. 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. She was selected as a main cast in a spy thriller called 'Mukhbir - The Story of a Spy'. Afroz has also been featured in television commercials and print ads for various brands and products, including Pond's, KFC, Asian Paints, Parliament Basmati Rice, OnePlus, LG, Maruti Suzuki Dzire Century Plyboards and Coca-Cola.

== Pageantry ==

=== Femina Miss India ===