Kingfisher Calendar, published by Vijay Mallya’s United Breweries Group of India, has been a launchpad for some popular Indian actresses. Many talented girls were picked up by Bollywood from the hottest calendar in the India.
Here is a list of some of the girls who became actress later.
- Deepika Padukone
Before becoming the reigning queen of Bollywood, Deepika Padukone was a successful model. The high point of Deepika’s modelling career was her turn as a Kingfisher Calendar Girl in the 2006 edition of the annual calendar.
2. Katrina Kaif
Katrina Kaif donned the bikini for the very first edition of Kingfisher Calendar in 2003. The same year, Bollywood opened its doors for Katrina, and she has never looked back since.
3. Narghis Fakhri
Pakistani-Czech model Nargis Fakhri’s claim to fame is her sizzling avatar in 2009 Kingfisher Calendar. Two year later, Nargis made her acting debut with the 2011 Bollywood hit ‘Rockstar’.
4. Yana Gupta
Czech beauty Yana Gupta grabbed eyeballs with the 2003 edition of Kingfisher Calendar. Yana went on to become a much-in-demand item girl across Indian film industries.
5. Esha Gupta
After winning the Miss Photogenic title during Femina Miss India in 2007, Esha Gupta featured in the 2010 edition of Kingfisher Calendar. Esha made her acting debut with the 2012 film ‘Jannat 2’. She went on to star in films like ‘Raaz 3D’, ‘Chakravyuh’ and ‘Humshakals’.
6. Lisa Haydon
Kingfisher Calendar Girl. Cover girl. Fashion designer. Actress. TV host. And lastly, a reality show judge. Lisa Haydon stands tall amongst her fashion world contemporaries. After easily forgettable roles in ‘Aisha’ and ‘Rascals’, Lisa found favour with her role of a bohemian girl in the 2014 hit ‘Queen’.
7. Poonam Pandey
Kingfisher model Poonam Pandey is best remembered for her offer to strip if Team India won the World Cup in 2011. Thereon, Poonam has offered to bare all at the drop of a hat and shockingly, without reason. She has two films to her credit – Bollywood erotic thriller ‘Nasha’ and Telugu film ‘Malini & Co.’
8. Tena Desae
Tena Desae, who posed in a bikini for the 2012 edition of Kingfisher Calendar, is yet to find a foothold in Bollywood. However, Tina’s stint in Hollywood has proved fruitful. She has featured in ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ and ‘The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’. Recently, she was roped in to star in The Wachowskis’ TV series ‘Sense 8’.
9. Sarah Jane Diaz
2015 Kingfisher Calendar featured Femina Miss India World 2007 Sarah-Jane Dias. After making her acting debut with Tamil film ‘Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai’, she went to star in films like ‘Game’, ‘Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum’, ‘Angry Indian Goddesses’ and ‘Zubaan’.
10. Rochelle Rao
2012 Femina Miss India International Rochelle Rao turned Kingfisher Calendar Girl in 2014. She has had a successful reality show career with stints on ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6’, ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 5’ and ‘Bigg Boss 9’.
11. Bruna Abdullah
Brazilian Bruna Abdullah, who donned the bikini for 2007 Kingfisher Calendar, was seen in blink-and-miss roles in ‘I Hate Luv Storys’, Billa II, ‘Grand Masti’ and ‘Jai Ho’.
12. Nathalia Kaur
2012 Kingfisher Calendar Girl Nathalia Kaur, who was briefly Ram Gopal Varma’s muse, hopes to make it big with a lead role in ‘Jism 3’.
13. Preeti Desai
Former Miss Great Britain Preeti Desai made a splash in India with her bikini avatar in the 2008 Kingfisher Calendar. After becoming a regular face at various fashion weeks, she went to star in ‘Shor in the City’ (2011) and One By Two (2014).
14. Sonali Raut
Sonali Raut turned swimsuit model for 2010 Kingfisher Calendar. Sonali, who made her acting debut with ‘The Xposé’, is best known for her stint on ‘Bigg Boss 8’.
15. Saiyami Kher
2012 Kingfisher Calendar Girl Saiyami Kher, who made her acting debut in 2015 with Telugu film ‘Rey’, will be seen in her first Bollywood film ‘Mirzya’ this year.
16. Karishma Kotak
The film career of 2006 Kingfisher Calendar Karishma Kotak failed to take off but she has found success as a host and reality show contestant.
Pic source: Agence France Presse, Getty images, IANS