Pooja Batra: Miss India Winner Who Became a Hollywood Filmmaker

Pooja Batra's career reads like a story of reinvention. She first rose to prominence after winning the Miss India title, then made a name for herself in Hindi films. Later, personal decisions led to a break from the Hindi screen. She rebuilt her professional life overseas and eventually moved into Hollywood projects.

In Hollywood, she played an astronaut in a film. Her preparation included reading about Indian-origin astronauts Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams. Today, Pooja works both as an actor and as a film producer.

Pooja Batra was born on October 27, 1975. Her father, Ravi Batra, was a colonel in the Indian Army, while her mother, Neelam Batra, competed in the Miss India pageant in 1971. Because of frequent transfers linked to her father's job, Pooja moved often as a child and changed about 10 schools in nearly 12 years. Sports were a constant interest, and she participated in running events.

She began modeling at an early age, and a soap advertisement helped her gain wider recognition. In 1993, she won the Miss India International crown, which led to new opportunities in entertainment. She completed her education before entering films. Her Hindi film debut came in 1997 with 'Virasat', opposite Anil Kapoor and Tabu. She then appeared in films such as 'Bhai', 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi', 'Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya', 'Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaaye', and 'Nayak: The Real Hero'.

At one point, Pooja stepped away from movies. She married Sonu S. Ahluwalia, an orthopedic surgeon in the United States, and lived in Los Angeles. The couple later separated legally through divorce. This phase encouraged her to revisit her life and career goals, and she began exploring both Indian and international projects.

A major highlight of her career came with the 2016 science-fiction film 'One Under the Sun'. In it, she played Katherine Voss, a lone survivor of a space mission who hopes to reunite with her sick daughter after landing on Earth. To understand the character's physicality and personality, Pooja studied the lives of Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams. The shoot lasted just 11 days, and the film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

Pooja has also expanded into production. Through her Los Angeles-based company, Globel Inc, she has been involved in several projects. In 2026, the short film 'Echoes of Us', produced by her company, was presented at the Cannes Film Festival. The cast includes Deepak Tijori and Spanish actress Alessandra Whelan Meridiz.