Zoya Afroz

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, 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.

Zoya walks the ramp in 2015 for a Global Peace Initiative programme at the Welingkar School in Mumbai.

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. KFC, Asian Paints, Parliament Basmati Rice, OnePlus, LG, Maruti Suzuki Dzire Century Plyboards and Coca-Cola.

Pageantry Femina Miss India

Afroz competed in the Femina Miss Indore 2013 contest at the age of 18, where she won the title. She acquired a direct entry as a contestant in the Femina Miss India 2013 pageant. At the end of the grand finale event held on 24 March 2013, in Yash Raj Studios, Mumbai, Afroz was crowned as the second runner-up by Rochelle Rao, Miss India International 2012 (and Top 15 of Miss International 2012).

Afroz was initially considered to represent India at Miss International 2013 by the Miss India Organization. However, subsequently when Miss Diva 2013 was organised, Gurleen Grewal, the edition's 1st runner-up was selected as Miss India International 2013.

Glamanand Supermodel India Afroz competed in the 2021 edition of the Glamanand Supermodel India pageant. The grand finale event was held at the Kingdom of Dreams, Gurgaon, Haryana in NCR Delhi on 21 August 2021. There, she bagged three sub-titles, namely - Best in Evening Gown, Miss Glamorous Eyes and Top Model.

During the final question and answer round of Femina Miss India 2017, the top 5 delegates were asked the same question - “What is the role of a beauty pageant in a country that lacks unity?”, to which Afroz responded:

"As someone who has dreamt to be on stage of such a prestigious pageant, I believe that beauty pageants give great opportunities to young women to excel in their career, and in whichever field they choose to pursue. Beauty pageants recognises that and gives them wings to fly and strengthen and empower them. So, I believe that in our country where we have so much unity, yet so much diversity, a beauty pageant brings girls from different cultures all together, and they get so much to learn from each other, as opposed to the countries which lacks unity. I really feel that pageants helps women to reach their highest potential, and makes them united.

Filmography Zoya (left) with Himansh Kohli at a promotional event for Sweetiee Weds NRI in 2017.

Films Year Title Role Language Notes Ref. 1999 Hum Saath Saath Hain Radhika Hindi 2005 From Tia With Love Tia English 2012 Sadi Gali Aaya Karo Channo Punjabi 2014 The Xposé Chandni Raza Hindi 2017 Sweetiee Weds NRI Sweetie Hindi 2021 Kabaad: The Coin Roma

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1998 Kora Kagaz Child ArtistAs a child artist 2000 Jai Mata Ki Nanhi Mata / Young Parvati 2013 Femina Miss India 2013 Herself 2014 Comedy Nights with Kapil Herself - Guest Episode 82 2020 Kingfisher Calendar: The Making Herself Documentary series 2021Matsya Kaand Urvashi MX Player 2022 Mukhbir - The Story of a Spy Jamila ZEE5 2023 Fireflies: Parth Aur Jugnu Nyasa 2026 Taskaree Priya Khubchandani Netflix series

Music Videos

Year Title Singer(s) Label Ref. 2021 Dil Lai La Kulwinder Billa Times Music Rab Kare Tu Bhi Yograj Koushal Zee Music Company Ferrari Anamika Koco 7 Productions 2020 Galat Bande R. Nait White Hill Studios Suno Na Arko and Neeti Mohan Gaana Originals 2018 Raati Saanu Gajendra Verma Saga Music

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Film Result Ref. 2013 Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Awards Beauty Queen of the Year N/A 2014 Life OK Screen Awards Best Actress "The Xposé"