Jubilant steel city basks in achievement of Miss India-Universe
Jamshedpur, March 28: Four years ago, the telephone did not stop ringing at a small bungalow in Adityapur, when model-turned-actor Priyanka Chopra won the Miss India-Asia-Pacific title at a beauty pageant. An elderly couple wept with joy as the congratulatory messages poured in. They were overwhelmed by their grand-daughter’s achievement.
Today, the continuous trill of the telephone mingled with the joyous din at the Dutta household in Sonari’s Ashiana Gardens on the other end of the city. Father Tapan Kumar Dutta, a development officer at the Life Insurance Corporation of India, mother Shikha and sister Ishita could not find words to express their happiness over Tanushree Dutta’s feat.
Twenty-year-old Tanushree, a second-year commerce student of Pune’s BMCC College, was crowned Miss India-Universe at a beauty contest in Mumbai last night. The 2000 ICSE topper from DBMS English School lived her dreams as the diamond-studded crown sat smug on her head. Titles of Miss Beautiful Smile and Miss Confidence added to her cup of achievement.
She hit the big time last year with her appearance in Daler Mehendi’s Moja Laen De, followed by Harry Anand’s Saiyyan Dil Mein Aana Re.
“It is all so surreal. The feeling has not yet sunk in,” Tanushree’s mother told The Telegraph. “What more could we ask for? Our happiness knows no bounds,” said her father, Tapan Kumar Dutta.
“She called us up soon after being crowned and wanted to know how we felt. Hounded by the press and sponsors, she barely spoke to us for seven minutes,” he added.
“However, we spoke to her at length when she called us up at 5 am today. She told us about the contest and how hard she worked for it,” Shikha piped in. “The trainers used to pick on her and criticise her during the month-long training session. Perhaps that was instrumental in her steely resolve to outshine her competitors,” she explained.
Friends remember Tanushree as a perky teenager and a regular at all the youth festivals. Clad in regulation T-shirt and faded denim, she was often seen riding pillion on bikes with friends and her sibling.
Recalls Rajni Shekharan, vice-principal of DBMS: “Tanushree was always a very bright child. Though she was interested in dance and cultural activities, we never thought that she would make it this big.”
The beauty queen might not find time to drop home, given the hectic schedule ahead. “Tanushree came down in mid-January, but now she has to prepare for the Miss Universe contest. Mother and I plan to visit her soon,” said sister Ishita, a tenth grader at DBMS.
He said though his brother was busy preparing for the release of his first film, he will try and make it to the function.
A graduate from Hindu College, New Delhi, Ali has the distinction of directing television serial like, Imtihan, Purushshetra, X-Zone, Rishtey.
R. Madhavan and Imtiaz Ali have been invited to participate in a chat show on November 6 on the premises of G Town Club. "It is a rare occasion. We are thrilled to have our students, who have made us proud with their work," said Prema Balasubhramanium, Principal of DBMS English School.