Pooja Bhatt Age, Wiki, Ex-husband, Family, Career, Net Worth

Pooja Bhatt is an Indian actress, producer, and director who became one of the most talked-about leading ladies of Hindi cinema in the 1990s. She was born on February 24, 1972 (54 years old) in Bombay, now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Pooja made her acting debut at 17 with her father Mahesh Bhatt’s television film Daddy (1989), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

Bhatt went on to star in hits like Sadak, Junoon, Border, and Zakhm. She later became a filmmaker and won two National Film Awards as a producer for Tamanna and Zakhm.

Quick Facts of Pooja Bhatt

Full Name	Pooja Mahesh Bhatt
Profession	Actress, Producer, Director
Age	54 years old
Date of Birth	February 24, 1972
Nationality	Indian
Zodiac Sign	Pisces
Birthplace	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Current Address	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Gender	Female

Pooja Bhatt Early Life and Education

Pooja Bhatt was born in Bombay into the well-established Bhatt film family. She grew up surrounded by cinema, as her father was already a leading name in the industry.

On her father’s side, she has Gujarati roots, while her mother’s side carries English, Scottish, Armenian, and Burmese ancestry.

Education

Pooja studied at A F Petit Girls High School in Mumbai. She entered films at the age of 17, so details about further formal higher studies are still to be updated.

School	A F Petit Girls High School, Mumbai
Alma Mater	Yet to be updated
Highest Qualification	Yet to be updated

Pooja Bhatt Personal Life

Pooja Bhatt was married to video jockey and restaurateur Manish Makhija, also known as Udham Singh, in 2003.

The couple announced their separation in December 2014, after 11 years of marriage.

The split was amicable and came from a need for different paths, rather than any conflict.

Past and Rumoured Relationships

Before her marriage, she was linked in media reports to several film personalities:

• Ranvir Shorey (Live-in Partner): Before her marriage, Pooja was in a live-in relationship with actor Ranvir Shorey. There were even reports of an engagement, but the couple later parted ways, and she has spoken about that phase being a hard one for her.
• Sohail Khan (In a relationship): In a 1995 magazine interview, Pooja reportedly revealed that she was in a relationship with actor Sohail Khan and was even planning to marry him.
• Bobby Deol (In a relationship): She was also in a relationship with actor Bobby Deol in the 1990s. Pooja described him as a “magical human being” and loved to spend time with him. The two eventually broke up because they grew in different directions. Pooja chose not to share deep details about the breakup out of respect, stating that “it worked till it didn’t work”.

Parents

Pooja shares a very close bond with her father and grew up mostly connected to the film world through him.

Father

Her father is Mahesh Bhatt, one of the most influential filmmakers in Hindi cinema.

He is a director, producer, and screenwriter known for acclaimed films such as Arth, Saaransh, Zakhm, and Sadak. He also co-founded the production house Vishesh Films, which delivered popular titles like Murder and the Raaz series.

Mahesh is widely respected for backing bold, socially rooted stories, and he directed several of Pooja’s most memorable films.

Mother

Her mother is Kiran Bhatt, born Loraine Bright, who was Mahesh Bhatt’s first wife.

Brother

Pooja has a brother, Rahul Bhatt, who works as a fitness trainer.

Half-sisters

She also has two younger half-sisters from her father’s marriage to actress Soni Razdan.

Alia Bhatt is one of the biggest stars in Hindi cinema today, known for films like Highway, Raazi, Gangubai Kathiawadi, and the Hollywood release Heart of Stone.

Shaheen Bhatt is a writer and mental health advocate.

Relationship Status	Divorced
Ex-boyfriends/ex-husband	Ex-husband: Manish Makhija Ex-boyfriends: Ranvir Shorey, Sohail Khan, Bobby Deol
Parents	Father: Mahesh Bhatt Mother: Kiran Bhatt
Siblings	Brother: Rahul Bhatt Half-sisters: Alia Bhatt, Shaheen Bhatt

Pooja Bhatt Career

Pooja Bhatt built a career that moved from acting to producing and directing across more than three decades.

She started as a leading actress and later became a respected filmmaker in her own right.

Acting Debut (1989)

Pooja Bhatt made her acting debut at the age of 17 in the television film Daddy (1989), directed by her father, Mahesh Bhatt.

She played a young girl trying to reconnect with her alcoholic father, a role played by Anupam Kher.

Her performance was praised widely and won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

Breakthrough Years (1991)

Her big-screen breakthrough came in 1991 with the romantic comedy Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, opposite Aamir Khan. The film was a major success and remains one of her most loved works.

The same year, she starred in the acclaimed drama Sadak alongside Sanjay Dutt, one of the biggest hits of 1991.

Rising Stardom (1992 to 1993)

In 1992, she appeared in Prem Deewane with Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit, and Vivek Mushran. She also starred in the horror success Junoon during the same period.

In 1993, she was seen in Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee with Rahul Roy, Sir opposite Atul Agnihotri, Chor Aur Chaand with Aditya Pancholi, and Pehla Nasha alongside Deepak Tijori, Raveena Tandon, and Paresh Rawal. She also appeared in Tadipaar with Mithun Chakraborty.

Established Leading Actress (1994 to 1996)

She continued as a leading name with Naaraaz (1994) opposite Mithun Chakraborty and Gunehgar (1995) with Atul Agnihotri.

She also starred in Hum Dono (1995) alongside Rishi Kapoor and Angrakshak (1995) with Sunny Deol.

In 1996, she featured in Chaahat opposite Shah Rukh Khan, which added to her strong run of the mid-nineties.

Peak Recognition (1997 to 1998)

In 1997, she produced and starred in the thriller Tamanna, her first venture under Pooja Bhatt Productions, which won a National Film Award.

The same year, she was part of the blockbuster war drama Border, alongside Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, and Akshaye Khanna.

In 1998, she delivered a powerful performance in Zakhm opposite Ajay Devgn, a film based on the life of Mahesh Bhatt’s mother.

She also appeared in the action drama Angaaray with Akshay Kumar and Nagarjuna.

Move to Filmmaking (2001 to 2012)

After the English-language drama Everybody Says I’m Fine! (2001), directed by Rahul Bose, Pooja stepped back from acting to focus on filmmaking.

She made her directorial debut with Paap (2004), starring John Abraham and Udita Goswami.

She went on to direct Holiday (2006), Dhokha (2007), Kajraare (2010), and Jism 2 (2012). She also produced several films during this period, building a strong identity behind the camera.

Comeback and OTT Success (2020 to 2024)

Pooja returned to acting with a special appearance in Sadak 2 (2020), sharing the screen with Sanjay Dutt, Alia Bhatt, and Aditya Roy Kapur.

In 2021, she made her web series debut in the Netflix series Bombay Begums, alongside Amruta Subhash, Shahana Goswami, and Plabita Borthakur.

She was seen in the film Chup: Revenge of the Artist (2022) with Sunny Deol and Dulquer Salmaan.

In 2023, she entered the reality show Bigg Boss OTT 2, and in 2024, she featured in the Amazon Prime Video series Big Girls Don’t Cry.

Upcoming Work

Pooja Bhatt is set to return to the big screen in an untitled film with actor Jitendra Kumar, in which she plays his on-screen mother.

The drama is built around India’s traditional pigeon-flying culture.

Pooja Bhatt Awards and Achievements

Pooja Bhatt has been honoured both as an actress and as a filmmaker.

Key Wins

• Filmfare Awards (1990): Won Best Female Debut for Daddy (1989).
• Smita Patil Memorial Award (1992): Won Best Actress.
• National Film Awards (1997): Won Best Film on Other Social Issues for Tamanna (1997), as producer.
• Bollywood Movie Awards (1999): Won Best Actress (Critics) for Zakhm (1998).
• National Film Awards (1999): Won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for Zakhm (1998), as producer.
• Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards: Won Best Actress (Hindi) for Zakhm (1998).

Key Nominations

• Filmfare Awards (1998): Nominated for Best Actress (Critics) for Zakhm.
• Screen Awards (1998): Nominated for Best Actress for Zakhm.
• Zee Cine Awards (2004): Nominated for Best Debut Director for Paap.

Pooja Bhatt Controversies

Pooja Bhatt has often been known as one of the boldest and most outspoken personalities of her generation. A few of her public moments drew debate over the years.

• Father-daughter magazine photoshoot (1990s): A Filmfare cover featuring Pooja and her father, Mahesh Bhatt, in an intimate pose drew heavy criticism. A remark later made by Mahesh Bhatt added further to the controversy.
• Body paint magazine cover: At the age of 24, Pooja appeared on a fashion magazine cover wearing only body paint. The image went viral and became a topic of debate, though she later said she had no regrets about it.

Pooja Bhatt Net Worth

Pooja Bhatt’s net worth is around ₹47 crore ($5.6 million).

Net Worth (Approx.)

₹47 crore ($5.6 million)

Pooja Bhatt Height, Weight, and Physical Stats

Below are the physical stats of Pooja Bhatt:

Height	In centimetres: 155 cm In meters: 1.55 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 1 inch
Weight	In Kg: 60 kg In lbs: 132 lbs
Body Measurements	34-30-36 inches
Hair Color	Brown
Eye Color	Brown

Pooja Bhatt Instagram

Instagram	@poojab1972
Spotify	The Pooja Bhatt Show

Interesting Facts about Pooja Bhatt

• Within the family and industry, Pooja carries the playful nickname “Bhoot Bhatt.”
• During her school days, she once dreamed of becoming an astronaut before cinema took over her path.
• In 1993, Bhatt recorded an English rap song titled “Just For Today” for music director Daboo Malik.

Pooja Bhatt FAQs