Zoya Afroz

Zoya Afroz(born 10 January 1994)is an Indian actress,modeland a beauty pageant titleholder. Afroz won the title ofMiss India International 2021competing at theGlamanand Supermodel Indiacontest and will represent India at theMiss International 2022beauty pageant inJapan.Afroz was previously crowned as the second runner-up atFemina Miss India 2013.
Her first appearance was as a child artist in the television seriesKora Kagazin 1998 and continued to do so in filmsHum Saath Saath Hain(1999),Mann(1999) andKuch Naa Kaho(2003). In 2014, Afroz made her Bollywood screen debut as an adult in the thriller filmThe Xposé, which emerged as a commercial success.Afroz has also worked in various television commercials since she was a child artist.Afroz promoteseducation for girlsand offers help to women in marginalized sections in acquiring financial independence. She works towards aiding women to acquire basic knowledge and supports the rights of women to getequal opportunity.
Originally hailing fromGorakhpur,Uttar Pradesh, Zoya Afroz was born inLucknow,Uttar Pradeshin aMuslimfamily, to Shadaab and Saleha Afroz.She started working in Indian films, television series and commercials since the age of three.She attended R N Shah High School inMumbai.She subsequently attendedMithibai CollegeinVile Parle, Mumbai, where she acquired herBachelor of Commercedegree.
Afroz started her career when she was 3 years old. She got her break from theRasna-sponsored Mahasearch Contest at the age of 3, after which she was featured in a commercial for the same.She appeared in the television seriesKora Kagazin 1998.She was spotted byRajshri Productionsand was offered a role inHum Saath Saath Hain(1999). She played the role ofNeelam Kothari's daughter in the film, which was a commercial and box-office success.
She later appeared in films likeMann(1999) andKuch Naa Kaho(2003).She then acted in the children'sfantasyadventuretelevision seriesSon Pari.She played the role of youngGoddess ParvatiinDD National's seriesJai Mata Kiwhich aired in the year 2000.As a child, she has appeared in television commercials for several brands likeWhirlpool,Shoppers Stop,Jatt AirwaysandNew York Life Insurance.
At the age of 17, she worked in aPunjabimovie titledSadi Gali Aaya Karo(2012).As an adult, she made her Bollywood debut in 2014 film,The Xposé.Taran Adarshdescribed her role by stating: “The leading lady, Zoya Afroz [as Chandni], looks glamorous and had enacted her parts in the film with confidence”.She was later signed up in aTamilmovie titledThamizhan Endru Sol, but the film was unreleased.
In 2017, Afroz appeared as a lead alongsideHimansh Kohliin the filmSweetiee Weds NRI.She expressed - “I was waiting for such a film. So when it came, I grabbed it with both my hands. Earlier, the film I did has quite a serious role. This one is quite fun and I wanted to do something that could connect with the youth and I could play my age onscreen.”She worked in a Tamil filmPaambanin 2019.She modelled for the 2020 edition of the annualKingfisher CalendarinWestern Cape,South Africa, and was featured in the March and June pages for the same.She was cast as a lead in the Hindi filmKabaad - The Coin, along withVivaan Shah. The film was released digitally on February 13, 2021, onVoot.Afroz was signed up in aMX Player's thriller web show titled 'Matsya Kaand', and she will co-star alongsideRavi DubeyandMadhur Mittal.She was selected as a main cast in a spy thriller called 'Mukhbir - The Story of a Spy'.
Afroz has also been featured in television commercials and print ads for various brands and products, includingPond's,KFC,Asian Paints,Parliament Basmati Rice,OnePlus,LG,Maruti Suzuki DzireCentury PlyboardsandCoca-Cola.
Afroz competed in the Femina Miss Indore 2013 contest at the age of 18, where she won the title. She acquired a direct entry as a contestant in theFemina Miss India 2013pageant. At the end of the grand finale event held on 24 March 2013, inYash Raj Studios, Mumbai, Afroz was crowned as the second runner-up byRochelle Rao, Miss India International 2012 (and Top 15 ofMiss International 2012).
Afroz was initially considered to represent India atMiss International 2013by theMiss India Organization.However, subsequently whenMiss Diva 2013was organized,Gurleen Grewal, the edition's 1st runner-up was selected as Miss India International 2013.
Afroz competed in the 2021 edition of theGlamanand Supermodel Indiapageant. The grand finale event was held at theKingdom of Dreams,Gurgaon, HaryanainNCR Delhion 21 August 2021.There, she bagged three sub-titles, namely - Best in Evening Gown, Miss Glamorous Eyes and Top Model.
During the final question and answer round of  Femina Miss India 2017, the top 5 delegates were asked the same question - “What is the role of a beauty pageant in a country that lacks unity?”, to which Afroz responded:
At the end of the event, she was crowned asMiss India International 2021, besting 23 other contestants. Thereby, she will represent India at theMiss International 2022pageant to be held during the fall of 2022, inYokohama City,Japan.