For Sushmita Sen, a career in acting was never a part of the plan. Shortly after winning the Miss Universe title in 1994, she built a home and life in Los Angeles for three years. She was financially independent at a young age. She had a career in modelling sorted, perhaps looking at entrepreneurship thereafter.

It was while she was visiting her parents in Delhi at one point time that filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt called her to meet, since he happened to be in the city. She told him over the phone, “If it’s for a role, I’m not interested. I can’t lie. It’ll show on camera." Bhatt insisted they have coffee, nonetheless. They met and he told her a few things flatly, “You don’t have to act. You have to play yourself, that is Sushmita Sen. Also, when did I say you’re a good actor, I’m a damn good director."