Manushi Chhillar Biography: Age, Miss World, Movies and Latest News
Manushi Chhillar is an Indian actress, model and beauty queen who won Miss World 2017, becoming the sixth Indian to take the title and the first since Priyanka Chopra in 2000. She was born on 14 May 1997 in Haryana and was a medical student before the pageant. She made her film debut opposite Akshay Kumar in Samrat Prithviraj (2022) and has since appeared in The Great Indian Family, Operation Valentine, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and the spy thriller Tehran (2025) with John Abraham.
Here is Manushi Chhillar’s complete, updated biography — age, family, education, Miss World journey, films and latest news.
Manushi Chhillar Quick Facts
| Full name | Manushi Chhillar |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 May 1997 |
| Age (Oct 2026) | 29 years |
| Birthplace | Rohtak, Haryana |
| Raised in | Delhi |
| Parents | Dr Mitra Basu Chhillar and Dr Neelam Chhillar |
| Education | St. Thomas’ School, Delhi; MBBS studies at Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women, Sonipat |
| Title | Femina Miss India World 2017; Miss World 2017 |
| Social cause | Project Shakti (menstrual hygiene awareness) |
| Debut film | Samrat Prithviraj (2022) |
| Latest release | Tehran (2025) |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
Manushi Chhillar Latest News (2026)
- New project with Dinesh Vijan. In September 2025, reports said Manushi had signed a film produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films and completed her look test, with production expected to begin soon after. The title has not been officially announced.
- Said no to Awarapan 2. She reportedly turned down Vishesh Films’ Awarapan 2 because of her schedule. The role went to Disha Patani, and the film became a hit in August 2026.
- Tehran on ZEE5. Her most recent release is the geopolitical thriller Tehran with John Abraham, which premiered on ZEE5 in 2025 and drew attention for its subject and action.
- Fashion and events. She continues to be a fixture at fashion weeks and brand events, where her looks regularly trend.
Early Life and Family
Manushi was born in Rohtak, Haryana, into a family of doctors and scientists. Her father, Dr Mitra Basu Chhillar, is a scientist, and her mother, Dr Neelam Chhillar, is a biochemist. She has a younger brother and sister. She grew up in Delhi and studied at St. Thomas’ School, where she excelled academically and was trained in Kuchipudi dance under renowned gurus Raja and Radha Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy.
Following her family’s medical tradition, she enrolled in the MBBS programme at Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women in Sonipat. She paused her studies to compete in pageants and later chose a career in films.
The Miss World 2017 Journey
In 2017, Manushi won Femina Miss Haryana and then Femina Miss India World. She represented India at Miss World 2017 in Sanya, China, where she also won the Beauty with a Purpose award. On 18 November 2017 she was crowned Miss World, ending India’s 17-year wait since Priyanka Chopra’s win in 2000. Her answer in the final round — that a mother deserves the highest salary, not in cash but in love and respect — was widely praised and became one of the most quoted pageant answers in India.
Project Shakti
Her Beauty with a Purpose initiative, Project Shakti, focuses on menstrual hygiene awareness. It involved visiting villages, distributing sanitary pads and holding sessions to break the taboo around menstruation, particularly in rural Haryana. The project combined her medical background with social impact and helped her win the Beauty with a Purpose award at Miss World.
Film Career
Samrat Prithviraj (2022)
Manushi signed with Yash Raj Films and made her debut as Princess Sanyogita opposite Akshay Kumar in Chandraprakash Dwivedi’s historical epic Samrat Prithviraj (June 2022). The film underperformed at the box office, but her grace and screen presence were noted.
The Great Indian Family (2023)
Her second YRF film was the comedy-drama The Great Indian Family (2023) opposite Vicky Kaushal, directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya. It also had a modest box-office run.
Operation Valentine and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024)
In 2024 she made her Telugu debut in the aerial action film Operation Valentine opposite Varun Tej, released in Telugu and Hindi, in which she played a radar officer. She then appeared in Ali Abbas Zafar’s action film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan with Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff.
Tehran (2025)
In 2025 she starred alongside John Abraham in the geopolitical spy thriller Tehran, released on ZEE5. The film, inspired by real-world tensions, gave her a more grounded, action-oriented role.
Tehran: A Turn Towards Grounded Roles
Directed by Arun Gopalan and produced by Maddock Films, Tehran is a geopolitical thriller in which John Abraham plays a Delhi police officer drawn into an international conspiracy after a bomb attack. Manushi plays a fellow officer in a supporting but significant role. The film, which skipped theatres and premiered on ZEE5, was praised for its realistic tone. For Manushi, it marked a clear shift away from glamorous parts towards characters rooted in action and investigation, and it also began her association with Maddock, which reportedly led to her next film with the banner.
Manushi Chhillar Movies List
| Year | Film | Language | Co-star |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Samrat Prithviraj | Hindi | Akshay Kumar |
| 2023 | The Great Indian Family | Hindi | Vicky Kaushal |
| 2024 | Operation Valentine | Telugu / Hindi | Varun Tej |
| 2024 | Bade Miyan Chote Miyan | Hindi | Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff |
| 2025 | Tehran | Hindi | John Abraham |
Miss World Indian Winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1966 | Reita Faria |
| 1994 | Aishwarya Rai |
| 1997 | Diana Hayden |
| 1999 | Yukta Mookhey |
| 2000 | Priyanka Chopra |
| 2017 | Manushi Chhillar |
Career Analysis: Beauty Queen to Actress
Manushi entered films with high expectations, given past Miss World winners like Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra became major stars. Her first few films did not perform strongly at the box office, but she has shown versatility across a period epic, a family comedy, two action films and a spy thriller. Industry watchers note that the right content-driven role could transform her career, which is why her choice of projects since 2025 has been more selective.
Her medical background, articulate interviews and social-impact work also give her a public image beyond films, making her a sought-after face for brands and causes.
Dance, Fitness and Discipline
Manushi is a trained Kuchipudi dancer and has performed on stage since childhood. She credits dance for her posture and stage confidence during the Miss World competition. She follows a disciplined fitness routine combining yoga, strength training and outdoor sports, and often shares workout clips on social media. Coming from a family of doctors, she frequently emphasises balanced nutrition and mental well-being over crash diets.
Public Image and Brand Work
Since her Miss World win, Manushi has represented several beauty, fashion and lifestyle brands. Her calm, articulate interviews and background in medicine help her stand out from many newcomers. She also continues to speak about menstrual health, building on Project Shakti, which keeps her connected to the social causes that defined her pageant journey.
What Is Next for Manushi Chhillar?
Her reported film with Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films is expected to be her next major release. Fans hope it will give her the breakout hit that has so far eluded her. Any confirmed title, cast or release date will be added to this page.
Personal Life
Manushi is unmarried. She has not confirmed any relationship publicly. She keeps her personal life private, focusing on fitness, dance, travel and spending time with family.
Lesser-Known Facts
- She paused her medical studies to compete in pageants, with her family’s full support.
- She is a trained Kuchipudi dancer.
- She was only 20 years old when she won the Miss World crown in China.
Key Takeaways
- Manushi Chhillar, born 14 May 1997, is 29 years old as of October 2026.
- She won Miss World 2017, India’s first win since 2000.
- She was an MBBS student and runs Project Shakti for menstrual hygiene awareness.
- Her films include Samrat Prithviraj, Operation Valentine and Tehran.
- She reportedly signed a Dinesh Vijan film and turned down Awarapan 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Manushi Chhillar?
Manushi Chhillar was born on 14 May 1997, so she is 29 years old as of October 2026.
When did Manushi Chhillar win Miss World?
She won Miss World on 18 November 2017 in Sanya, China.
What was Manushi Chhillar’s Miss World answer?
Asked which profession deserves the highest salary, she said a mother does — not in cash, but in love and respect.
Is Manushi Chhillar a doctor?
She was studying MBBS at Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women when she won Miss World, and later chose acting.
What was Manushi Chhillar’s first movie?
Her first film was Samrat Prithviraj (2022), opposite Akshay Kumar.
What is Manushi Chhillar’s latest movie?
Her latest release is Tehran (2025) with John Abraham on ZEE5.
Is Manushi Chhillar married?
No. Manushi Chhillar is not married as of October 2026.