Back in 2005, a leaked MMS clip of actress Riya Sen went viral, and it nearly destroyed her career. She lost out on film roles because of the scandal, but Riya later made a solid comeback on digital platforms.
An alleged MMS clip of the actress, who comes from a well-known Bollywood family, created a massive sensation. The leak seriously affected her career, which was on the rise at the time.
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Who is this actress?
The viral MMS from 2005 featured Riya Sen, the granddaughter of legendary actress Suchitra Sen and daughter of Moon Moon Sen. Born in Kolkata, West Bengal on January 24, 1981, Riya has acted in both Hindi and Bengali films. Her father, Bharat Dev, is from the royal family of Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur. With such a film background, she entered the industry at just 10 years old.
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The 1:32 minute viral clip
Riya Sen first appeared as a child artist in the 1991 film 'Vishkanya' and quickly became popular. But in 2005, a 1-minute-32-second clip completely changed her life. The video also featured actor Ashmit Patel, and the leak negatively affected both their personal lives.
To this day, no one has officially confirmed if the 1-minute-32-second video was real. Media reports at the time claimed that Riya blamed Ashmit Patel for the leak. After the controversy, reports also said that Riya and Ashmit's relationship was over.
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Riya Sen turned to digital
After the MMS scandal, Riya Sen found it hard to get film roles. Many articles even claimed her career was finished. With fewer movie offers, she turned to digital platforms and made a strong comeback. She starred in web series like "Ragini MMS: Returns," "Ziddi Ishq," and "Mismatch 2," winning over audiences once again.
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Downloaded over 5 crore times
The video, which leaked in 2005, was uploaded on many adult websites. People downloaded the clip from various platforms. According to a 2011 report, the video was downloaded more than 50 million (5 crore) times. The clip reportedly showed Riya Sen and Ashmit Patel in a compromising position.
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Active on social media
Riya Sen is still very active on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Her glamorous photos often go viral on Instagram. Even though she doesn't get as many film roles now, she stays connected with her fans through digital content. Riya has over 1.7 million followers on Instagram.
