Shweta Menon Recalls Beauty Pageant Days with Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen
Actress Shweta Menon, the first woman president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), reflected on her pageant journey, revealing that she was Aishwarya Rai’s roommate during Miss India 1994.
In a historic move, acclaimed actress and former model Shweta Menon has been elected as the first woman president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). Her appointment marks a significant milestone in the organization's history, breaking a decades-long tradition of male leadership.
Shweta Menon, known for her powerful performances across Malayalam and Hindi cinema, shared insights into her journey during the India Today Conclave South 2025, where she reminisced about her early days as a model and beauty pageant contestant.
In a nostalgic revelation, Shweta disclosed that she was a roommate of Aishwarya Rai during the Femina Miss India 1994 pageant, where Sushmita Sen ultimately took home the Miss India Universe title. Aishwarya went on to win Miss World 1994, while Shweta herself bagged the Femina Miss India Asia Pacific title the same year and was the third runner-up in the global competition.
“I was a roommate of Aishwarya Rai, and Sushmita Sen won it,” Shweta recalled. “I went to Miss India Asia Pacific and managed to get third runner-up without any backing. The excitement that we had, I can see it in everyone now — even in my daughter. Today, I think everyone is a model.”
Shweta also spoke about how her journey began unexpectedly. “One day, when I came back from school, my father told me there was a letter from Coimbatore inviting me to participate in the Miss India contest,” she said. “Though he wasn’t initially happy that I applied without consulting him, he gave me permission and even accompanied me. I won first runner-up, but since I was under 18, I wasn’t allowed to participate in the final round.”
Following her early success in modeling, Shweta transitioned into acting, appearing in more than 30 Hindi films including a notable role in the 1997 hit Ishq, starring Aamir Khan and Ajay Devgn. She later returned to Malayalam cinema, earning critical acclaim for her versatile performances.
Now, with her election as AMMA president in 2025, Shweta Menon has added another feather to her cap, becoming a trailblazer for women in the Malayalam film industry.
Her appointment has been welcomed across the industry, with many seeing it as a step toward greater representation and inclusivity in the Malayalam cinema ecosystem.
