Sushmita Sen vs Aishwarya Rai: The untold story of the 1994 Miss India showdown!

In 1994, India witnessed an unforgettable clash of beauty, poise, and intelligence when Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai competed for the Femina Miss India crown. Both women went on to etch their names in global pageant history - Sushmita as Miss Universe and Aishwarya as Miss World. But what really happened behind the shimmering stage lights has now been revealed by ad filmmaker Prahlad Kakkar, who had a front-row view of this iconic face-off.

Related Story: Sushmita Sen as Miss Universe: 29 years of scripting history and the truth behind her gown

‘I saw it happen in front of me’

Speaking to ANI, Prahlad recalled the events vividly. “That happened in front of me, because when they came up for Miss India, I had escorted Aishwarya to Goa with her mother. I met Sushmita there because I had access to the changing rooms, much to the organiser’s dismay,” he said, reminiscing about the electric atmosphere of the pageant.

‘I found Sushmita weeping in one corner’

Behind the glamour and smiles, emotions ran high. Prahlad shared a moment of vulnerability he witnessed.

Prahlad said, “Halfway through the competition, I found Sushmita weeping copiously in one corner. Even though I was from the opposing camp, I went up to her and asked her, ‘What’s the problem?’ She said, ‘It’s all fixed; it’s all rigged. We don’t know what we are doing here.’” 

‘Aishwarya is so big... we’re all just beginners’

Sushmita’s self-doubt stemmed from the overwhelming popularity surrounding Aishwarya.

Prahlad revealed, “She told me, ‘Aishwarya is so big, and she is going to be a bigger model. We are all just beginners. They have obviously decided that she is going to be Miss India, and we are all here just for the crumbs.’”

Trying to reassure her, he reminded Sushmita that the jury was impartial.

“I sat her down and said, ‘Have you seen your judging panel? People like Simone Tata can’t be coerced. She was never going to listen to the dictum of the organisers, and she was going to judge everyone fairly.’ And that is exactly what happened - Sushmita won,” said Prahlad.

‘Both were stunning, but Sushmita’s answer sealed it’

In the final moments, the tension was palpable. “Both of them were stunning, but Aishwarya fell. Finally, there was a question-and-answer round, which was an extra round because they couldn’t decide between the two. Due to her convent education, Sushmita’s answer was far more confident than Aishwarya’s. She won in that last round,” Prahlad shared.

Also Read: Aishwarya Rai: Unknown facts about beauty queen from being Miss World to ruling screen

A Night That Changed Everything

That one evening not only crowned Sushmita Sen as Miss India Universe 1994 but also marked the rise of two Indian icons who would redefine beauty and success on the global stage. What began as a fierce competition ended in mutual triumph - with both women making India proud across the world.