May 4, 2025: In a resurfaced interview with WildFilmsIndia, former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen candidly addressed long-standing rumours of a rivalry with fellow beauty queen and Miss World 1994 winner Aishwarya Rai. The two, who won their respective international titles in the same year, have often been compared throughout their careers — both in pageantry and in Bollywood.
However, Sushmita clarified that there was no personal animosity or deep connection between them.
“We never had enough time to be enemies, rivals or friends,” she said.
“We were always people who knew each other from a distance. We minded our own business, did our thing.”
Sen further dismissed the idea of rivalry, noting that both she and Aishwarya had carved their own paths:
“We always wanted to be the best in our own ways — which we have proven to be. I went ahead and won Miss Universe; she went ahead and won Miss World. Neither of us was second to anybody.”
On the media’s obsession with comparisons, she added:
“You only compare people when both are perfect. None of us is perfect. We had to work hard to make our place in the industry. There is no such thing as rivalry… There will come a day when, after all that’s been said and done, Aishwarya and I will have the last laugh.”
Over the years, both actors have made significant contributions to Indian cinema. Aishwarya Rai became a global icon with films like Devdas, Taal, Dhoom 2, and most recently Ponniyin Selvan II. Sushmita Sen, meanwhile, won hearts with roles in Biwi No.1, Main Hoon Na, and her powerful performance in the web series Aarya and biopic Taali.
Both stars remain celebrated figures in Indian entertainment, admired not just for their beauty, but for their individuality and resilience.