DYK: Sushmita Sen almost left Miss India pageant because of Aishwarya Rai

Sushmita Sen made us all proud when she wore the prestigious Miss Universe crown in 1994. At just 18, Sushmita became the quintessential beauty with brain. 

But you will be surprised to know that at one point Sushmita was scared of entering the Miss India pageant. She almost withdrew her name from the contest because of her fellow contestant Aishwarya Rai.

We found a throwback video in which Sushmita made this big confession to Jessica Soho, the host of GMA show Kapuso Mo. 

In the interview, Sushmita revealed that she was scared of Aishwarya. Sushmita said, "Aishwarya is not a conventional Indian gorgeous woman, she is gorgeous internationally. So you are looking at her at 17 and a half and you are saying, She is entering the pageant, okay next year bye-bye! I am not participating."

The mother of two continued, "Oh my god! What a shouting I got from my mom that day. I came back home to; you are not my daughter. I cannot believe that you are that afraid to try. And you want someone who's not a competition to be there to compete with you. If you don't try, you will never know. Shame on you, don't talk to me. My mother was very mad at me."

She added, "And I was standing at the airport when I won and came back. And my mother was standing like, I told you so. Well, this is a valuable lesson, you have to give life a shot. I am living proof of that."

Later that year, both the beauties Sushmita and Aishwarya won the Miss Universe and Miss World contest respectively. 

• Sushmita Sen