Meet actress who once challenged Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, quit Bollywood to become a sadhvi, now tough to recognise her, name is…

This actress has completely renounced the glamorous world and is now living a simple life as a monk. Do you recoganise her ?

It is often said that after making a name and earning fame in the Bollywood industry, actors and actresses rarely turn towards spirituality. However, actress Anushka Sharma and cricketer Virat Kohli are among those couples who have chosen the path of spirituality. Similarly, there is another actress who has completely renounced the glamorous world and is now living a simple life as a monk. This actress was so beautiful that she gave tough competition to big names like Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen in the Miss India competition. If you’re wondering who we are talking about, it is none other than Barkha Madan.

Barkha Madan’s Participation in Miss India

Barkha Madan participated in the prestigious beauty pageant, Miss India, which featured Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai. While Sushmita was crowned the winner and Aishwarya was named the first runner-up, Barkha won the title of Miss Tourism India. She also represented India at the Miss Tourism International pageant in Malaysia, where she finished as the third runner-up.

Barkha Madan’s Bollywood Entry

In 1996, Barkha made her Bollywood debut with Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, starring alongside Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon, and Rekha in leading roles. The movie became a massive hit and established Barkha’s identity in the film industry.

Over the years, Barkha took on selective projects. One of her most notable performances was in the 2003 supernatural horror film Bhoot. The audience praised her stellar acting in this Ram Gopal Varma directorial. Apart from Barkha, the movie featured Ajay Devgn, Urmila Matondkar, Nana Patekar, Rekha, Fardeen Khan, and Tanuja.

Barkha Madan’s Turn Towards Spirituality

There came a turning point in Barkha’s career when her films like Surkhaab and Soch Lo failed to gain much appreciation. In 2012, she decided to leave the showbiz industry and embrace Buddhism. She became a monk and adopted the name Gyalten Samten.

Today, Barkha Madan is an ardent follower of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. She is also an active social media user, often sharing glimpses of the beauty and serenity of her simple, monk-like life.