Juhi Chawla Mehta is one of Bollywood’s most loved and leading actresses. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she has delivered some of the most memorable and successful films in Hindi cinema.

Juhi made her acting debut with the 1986 film Sultanat, two years after winning the prestigious Miss India beauty pageant. While her debut film tanked at the box office, it was 1988’s Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak alongside Aamir Khan that helped her gain recognition.

Her career reached new heights in the 1990s and early 2000s, with films like Darr, Hum, Yes Boss, and Ishq becoming major hits. These performances showcased her range as an actress, from intense drama to lighthearted comedy.

Alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi co-founded the production company Dreamz Unlimited. Their first film, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000), starred both of them and demonstrated her ability to take creative control beyond acting. This venture reflected her interest in shaping projects both on and off screen.

In 1995, Juhi Chawla married industrialist Jay Mehta, and the couple has two children. The couple kept their marriage a secret initially. In an old interview, Juhi explained that this was common in those days because actors felt they would be less desirable to the public if they weren’t single.

In an earlier interview with Rajeev Masand, Juhi said, “I was just about established and just starting to do well. That’s the time Jay was serenading me, and I was afraid of losing my career just when I kind of got there. So, I wanted to carry on, and this seemed the midway—let’s keep it quiet and it’s okay, you carry on working.”

Juhi is also passionate about sports and entrepreneurship. Along with her husband and Shah Rukh Khan, she co-owns the Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders, showing her interest extends beyond cinema into business and sports management.

Juhi shares a close friendship and professional bond with Shah Rukh Khan, which extends beyond films. She even stood as a guarantor and signed a Rs 1 lakh bond in Mumbai’s sessions court for his son, Aryan Khan, in a drug case, in which he has now been acquitted.

While she has appeared in a few films over the years, Juhi hasn’t had a major Bollywood release recently. Her last film, Friday Night Plan (2023), starred Babil Khan in the lead role.

With a reported net worth of around Rs 4600 crore, Juhi Chawla is currently the richest Indian actress. She surpasses other stars like Priyanka Chopra, Aishwarya Rai, and Kareena Kapoor, which speaks to her successful ventures both in films and business.