Meet Barkha Madan: Actress who competed with Aishwarya, Sushmita, worked with Akshay, then left Bollywood to become nun

Akshay Kumar is back in business. His new film Sky Force is leaping to new heights, ending his and Bollywood's dry spell. As Khiladi Kumar has returned in form, we will discuss an actress who made her debut with him, and in a few years, she made an identity for herself. However, within 18 years she quit Bollywood to live a quiet life. This former actress is now a Buddhist nun, and she called her decision to walk the path of spirituality the best decision of her life. 

Meet Barkha Madan: Former actress who once competed with Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen

Barkha Madan, hailed from a Punjabi family, competed at the Femina Miss India pageant in 1994 alongside winners Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai. Later she received the title of Miss Tourism India she participated in the inaugural Miss Tourism International pageant. However, she ended up becoming third runner-up alongside Malaysian actress and model, Emylia Abdul Hamid, who was the runner-up of the said pageant. 

Barkha Madan made her Bollywood debut with...

Two years after Miss India, Barkha made her way to Bollywood, and she made her debut in Akshay Kumar-starrer. Barkha's first film was Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi. In the film, she played Jane and shared the majority of her scenes with Rekha and Akshay. 

Barkha Madan's career skyrocketed with...

In 2003, Ram Gopal Varma cast Barkha in Bhoot. In this film, she played the role of the ghost. After the success of Bhoot, Barkha became a household name. However...

Barkha Madan couldn't sustain stardom and quit Bollywood 

After Bhoot, Barkha did a few Punjabi films, but couldn't establish herself there either. Then, she started a production and distribution company named Golden Gate LLC, to promote talented independent filmmakers. When movies didn't work out for her, she moved to television and became a popular face by starring in more than 20 shows. 

 

 

 

 

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Barkha quit acting to become a nun

In 2012, Barkha decided to quit the glamour world and walk on the path of spirituality. She was impressed by the ideology of Buddhism and is also a follower of the Dalai Lama. Thus, Barkha decided to become a Buddhist nun. Barkha changed her name to Ven. Gyalten Samten. Barkha took her ordination vows from Sera Je Monastery on 4 November 2012 under Lama Zopa Rinpoche's supervision.