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Just Juhi Things
Unlike many of her peers in Bollywood, Juhi had a very middle class upbringing in a close-knit family in Ludhiana in Punjab
Juhi Chawla / Instagram/ iamjuhichawla
The epitome of timeless grace and charm, Juhi Chawla has captivated the hearts of the Bollywood audience with a career spanning over three decades. Be it the demure Rashmi of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak or the willful Vaijanti in Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke or even the vivacious and chirpy Madhu in Ishq – Juhi made every character her own, delivering performances that evoke sweet nostalgia even all these years later.
The ‘80s and ‘90s, when the actress was at the peak of her career, films didn’t present many opportunities for actresses to display their acting prowess but Juhi still managed to make a mark with her remarkable spunk and an undeniable spark of brilliance that elevated even the most ordinary characters.
Ordinary childhood, extraordinary life
Unlike many of her peers in Bollywood, Juhi had a very middle class upbringing in a close-knit family in Ludhiana in Punjab. She recollected playing with her friends on the streets of her hometown without a care in the world as a child. She described her childhood to be a magical time with few luxuries but lots of love and togetherness. In an interview, she shared how her parents always instilled the values of humility, hard work, and the importance of education in her. She credits her upbringing for shaping her personality.
Acting by chance
Juhi Chawla didn’t have any acting aspirations while growing up. A chance participation in a beauty pageant led her to being crowned Miss India. Her Bollywood career took off in the late 1980s when she made her debut with the film Sultanat, which didn’t get much talked about.
However, it did land her a breakthrough role in the 1988 release Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, which turned her into an overnight sensation and earned her a Filmfare Award for best debutante. Over the years, Juhi has starred in numerous hit films such as Darr, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Ishq, and Yes Boss. Her versatility as an actress was evident from her varied career graph as she successfully transitioned from romantic roles to comedy, and even drama.
Family first
Juhi has always prioritised her family life over her professional one. Married to industrialist Jay Mehta, she is the proud mother of two kids-Jahnavi and Arjun.Though always one to keep her commitments, she chose to take some time out after the birth of her daughter to focus on the kind of films she would want to do going forward. For the actress, her family is her anchor and sanctuary.
Part of the showbiz
While Juhi might have become choosier about the projects in which she would star, she has certainly not been away from the showbiz for even a minute. Besides their amazing onscreen chemistry, Juhi is great friends with Shah Rukh Khan and two have always worked well together.
In 2000, the duo, along with filmmaker Aziz Mirza, launched their production house – Dreamz Unlimited. Back then it wasn’t as common for actors to produce their own films as it is today, so Juhi was certainly a pioneer in that regard. Today, she successfully co-owns Indian Premier League Team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) along with her friend, SRK, and the two are often spotted together on the stands, cheering for their boys in purple.
A voice that matters
Juhi’s contribution to society extends far beyond her acting career. Her passion for the environment is documented in KKR’s association with the ‘Plant A 6’ campaign, aimed at planting trees for every boundary scored. Besides this, Juhi has co-founded the ‘Citizens for Tomorrow’ initiative, which focuses on creating a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. She has also been an advocate for several other social causes, including women’s empowerment and children’s education, actively participating in fundraisers and awareness campaigns.
Under Special Arrangement of Bollywood Insider.
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