Biography
Who is Yukta Mookhey?
Early life and education
Yukta Mookhey was born in Mumbai, India, and raised in Dubai until she reached seven years of age. Her family moved back to Mumbai in June 1986. Her mother Aroona ran a grooming saloon, while her father Inderlal Mookhey worked as a Managing Director for a clothing company.
After completing her school education, Yukta studied zoology at the V. G. Vaze College in Mumbai. She also earned a diploma in computer sciences from Aptech and spent three years studying Hindustani classical music.
Miss India and Miss World success
In 1999, Yukta entered the Femina Miss India contest and was selected as a contestant. During the grand finale, she answered questions from judges including Viv Richards regarding sportsmanship and family values. She won the crown of Miss India World 1999, which gave her the right to represent India at the international competition.
The 49th edition of the Miss World pageant took place on December 4, 1999, at Olympia in London, featuring delegates from around the world. Yukta was crowned Miss World 1999 and also won the Asia and Oceania Queen of Beauty Award during the event. She became the fourth woman from India to claim the Miss World title.
Film career and entertainment work
Yukta entered the film industry in 2001 by appearing in a song for the Tamil movie Poovellam Un Vasam. She made her Hindi film debut the following year in Pyaasa, starring alongside Aftab Shivdasani. The film did not perform well at the box office.
Over the next several years, she acted in additional projects, including the Odia film Swayamsiddha in 2010, where she played a Maoist character named Swayamsiddha. She also appeared in a music video titled Kathputali in 2006.
Social activism and causes
Following her tenure as Miss World, Yukta involved herself in numerous charitable causes and social initiatives. She worked for people affected by HIV and AIDS, breast cancer, and thalassemia, and pledged to donate her organs. She also provided motivational counselling and partnered with an NGO to guide young girls from slums.
Yukta took part in environmental movements, joining a campaign in 2018 to prevent illegal tree cutting at the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary for road and metro construction. She supported the Swachh Kalyani Nagar initiative in Pune to promote waste segregation and recycling, and aided people with hearing impairments by learning Indian sign language.
Marriage and personal life
In September 2008, Yukta became engaged to New York-based businessman and financial consultant Prince Tuli at a ceremony in Mumbai. The marriage took place in November 2008 during a traditional Sikh ceremony at a Nagpur Gurudwara, and the couple had one son together.
In July 2013, Yukta accused her husband and in-laws of domestic violence and harassment, leading to a registered police case. The couple later obtained a consensual divorce in June 2014.
Birthday and age
Yukta Mookhey was born on October 7, 1977, which makes Yukta 49 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Yukta shares the date with 38 other famous people.
Explore more
