MUMBAI : Bollywood actresses Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sushmita Sen are much loved. The actress pair entered the Miss India 1994 contest to begin their careers. There were numerous rumors that the two stunning actresses had a dispute when they both began their careers simultaneously.

Maninee De, one of the top 10 finalists of Miss India 1994, recently responded to the same and stated whether Aishwarya and Sushmita had any competition between them, even though neither of them addressed the same.

Also read: Maninee De on being part of Dalchini: The hate mail that I've got has been my biggest award

Maninee De recently had an interview with Siddharth Kannan in which she talked about her friendship with Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen, two candidates from Miss India 1994, and took the audience on a trip down memory lane. Maninee said that there was no separation between the two actresses and that the rumors about their rivalry were unfounded when questioned if they were true.

Maninee stated that she had never witnessed anything among these actresses as they both are extremely dignified. Talking about the same, Maninee mentioned that when she and Sushmita went to Delhi for Miss India in 1994, they were told that Aishwarya was already a famous model, so they would not stand there.

Maninee mentioned, "There was nothing like that between them, this was very media created. Both of them were so dignified, we were in our 20s. To my knowledge there was no rivalry at all. This was media created because Sushmita was the underdog, when we went from Delhi we were told Aishwarya was a model for a popular soap brand so what would we even do there. But there was nothing like that, especially from what I have witnessed.”

Maninee De also shared that they were all co-contestants and everyone was good to each other. She also added that she later met Aishwarya during the screening of the movie, Drona. Sharing deets about their meeting, Maninee mentioned that while she was leaving the place, Aishwarya called her and hugged her. Maninee added that she felt a bit shy and Aishwarya also met her daughter.

She added, "Firstly, for a girl who was never told she is conventionally beautiful, going on India’s premiere contest was in itself a big deal. I must thank Sushmita Sen, she was working with my first ex-husband, and we met and became very good friends. She used to recite poetries to me at 2 am in the night and would say that I was one of those few people who would understand what she was writing. She dropped me at the Claridges Hotel and ordered me to apply, so the last form filled out for Miss India in 1994 was mine. If Sushmita hadn’t been at that time… the universe sent her to me as a catalyst."

Maninee De said that she met Aishwarya Rai in Goa. Maninee praised the actress, saying that in addition to her beauty, Aishwarya also has a beautiful demeanor. She added that Aishwarya visited her after she won the Miss Congeniality contest and said she had voted for Maninee because she was the loveliest sort of person.

Maninee said, "But what a lovely girl she has been, she was so gracious; not only is she beautiful but also very good-natured. I won the Miss Congeniality contest that time and she walked up to me saying that she voted for me because I was genuinely the sweetest of the lot. I was so taken aback because there was a wedge between these Delhi and Mumbai girls."

Also read: Maninee De on being part of Dreamiyata's Dalchini!

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Credit- Bollywoodshaadis