Her relationship with filmmaker Vikram Bhatt was often talked about in the Indian media as well as her long-running rift with her parents.

Early life and background

Patel is the daughter of Amit Patel and Asha Patel, sister of Ashmit Patel and the granddaughter of the famous lawyer-politician Barrister Rajni Patel who was the Congress Pradesh Committee President of Bombay. She was born in the Breach Candy Hospital in Bombay and is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer since the age of five.^[2] Her birth name is a blend of the first three letters of her father’s name Amit and the last three letters of her mother’s name Asha. She studied at the Cathedral and John Connon School in Bombay and was head girl for the academic year 1992–1993 before heading overseas to study Economics at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Patel’s career began as an economic analyst at Khandwala Securities Limited after graduation. Later on, she received an offer fromMorgan Stanley but turned it down. After returning to India, she joined Satyadev Dubey’s theatre group and acted in plays, including anUrdu language play titled Neelam (1999) that was written by Tanveer Khan,^[3] upon receiving permission from her conservative parents. At the same time she plunged into modeling appearing in several commercial campaigns. Patel has also modeled for well-known Indian brands like Bajaj Sevashram, Fair & Lovely, Cadburys Jai Lime, Fem, Lux and many more.

Acting career

Debut and breakthrough, 2000–2002

Patel’s first opportunity for acting came in the form of an offer from her father’s schoolmate, Rakesh Roshan, to star opposite his son,Hrithik Roshan, in Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai (2000). The offer came immediately after she graduated from high school but she refused the project because she wanted to continue her education in USA.^[4] Afterward, Kareena Kapoor replaced her but luckily, Kapoor dropped out a few days into principal photography and Patel was given the opportunity once again during a family lunch.^[5] She readily agreed to do the project this time. The role of an exuberant college girl in love, undergoing a tortuous time at losing her lover and rediscovering a more mature relationship gave Patel scope to perform. The film was a smashing success and established Patel as a rising star, earning her awards for Best Debut at a number of award ceremonies.^[6] In her second film, the Telugu language drama Badri, she starred opposite Pawan Kalyan. The film was a major success, grossing more than Rs 120 million in India.^[7] 2001 saw her appearing in Anil Sharma’s cross-border romance, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, alongside Sunny Deol. Patel signed on much before she shot into the limelight with Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai and was among 22 girls that were screen-tested from 500 girls who came to audition for the film. Patel had gone through a 12-hour audition before she got the part.^[8] The film went on to become the top-grossing film of the year, as well as the biggest hit of the 21st century, earning Rs 973 million in India.^[9] Set during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, it featured Patel as Sakeena, a Muslim girl who finds refuge in Deol’s house during the riots, and subsequently falls for him. Her performance was praised, and won her the Filmfare Special Performance Award, as well as nominations for Best Actress at various award ceremonies. Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM concluded, “Despite being one-film-old, Amisha Patel deserves full marks for handling the complex role with elegance. She looks the character she is portraying and impresses with a natural performance.”^[10] The film was perceived as being excessively anti-Pakistani.^[11] These successes were followed by a series of films that flopped at the box-office. In Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar (2001), she played a successful singer who was abandoned by her mother at the time of her birth. In 2002, Patel had three failures but her last release, Humraaz, became one of the highest grossing films of the year at the box office, and her performance earned her a nomination for Filmfare Best Actress Award. The Abbas-Mustan marital thriller saw her playing a character with negative shades for the first time. She played the girlfriend of Akshaye Khanna, who marries Bobby Deol to grab his wealth – but, seeing Bobby’s honesty, her character surrenders to him. Taran Adarsh commented, “Amisha Patel is just about okay as Akshaye’s lover (first half), but splendid as Bobby’s wife (second half). This performance should silence her detractors for sure. Also, she’s looked her best with admirable outfits and perfect make-up.”^[12]

Initial success and struggle phase, 2003–2011

During 2003 to 2006, Patel’s acting career entered a slump. Despite the relative success of Humraaz, Patel’s string of unsuccessful films followed and would continue until 2006, although she did find minor box office success with Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai,^[13] in which she played a career-oriented young woman who rejects the advances of Aftab Shivdasani’s character. In Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage, she played the role of Sapna who is caged in protective custody of her own father. She co-starred opposite Hrithik Roshan for the second time in this film. Unlike their successful pairing in Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, the film proved to be a disappointment and resulted in a critical and commercial failure. Patel’s performance in the film was criticized by a section of the media, but during an interview she clarified that there was an “error” because the scene explaining that her character is supposed to be asthmatic in the film was edited out not knowing that one shot would make such a difference, thus creating confusion to the viewer about her appearing out of breath, as if she’s overacting or crying.^[14] Consequently, Patel’s unsuccessful follow-up continued with Kranti and David Dhawan’s comedy Yeh Hai Jalwa in 2002, followed by her first Tamil language film Pudhiya Geethai and Deepak Bahry’s Parwana in 2003. Her releases in 2004, Vimal Kumar’s comedy Suno Sasurjee, a delayed production since 2000, and her second Telugu language film Naani, followed. That year she also appeared in the music video for “Kasam” and “Kasam (Unplugged)” by Adnan Sami. In 2005, she starred in Satish Kaushik’s thriller Vaada, playing the role of Arjun Rampal’s unfaithful wife who is followed by her obsessive ex-lover. In her next release, Elaan, she played a TV reporter. She later appeared in Ketan Mehta’s historical drama Mangal Pandey: The Rising where she played the role of the soft-spoken Jwala, a Bengali widow who gets rescued from committing Sati by a British commanding officer. Patel was cast as a replacement for Aishwarya Rai under the recommendation of Aamir Khan who was impressed by her IQ level when he saw her on BBC under the segment of Question Time India in 2003.^[15] The film, which saw her appearing without make-up for the first time, did an average business despite becoming a major grosser.^[16][17] Her other releases that year include Zameer: The Fire Within, a delayed production since 2001, and the Telugu film Narasimhudu, both which proved commercial and critical failures. Patel featured in six films in 2006, all which failed commercially. She first starred in Mere Jeevan Saathi, a production that had been delayed since 2003. She next appeared as a blind girl in Humko Tumse Pyaar Hai, another delayed production since 2002. The film had a limited release and flopped badly with some critics describing it as “outdated”. In Teesri Aankh: The Hidden Camera, she played the role of a mute girl who witnesses a murder. She learned the sign language in order to fit the role.^[18] Patel was next cast inTathastu, based on Denzel Washington’s thriller John Q (2002). Her performance as the helpless mother was not well received. Patel’s fifth release in 2006, Ankahee, earned her critical praise despite its failure at the box office.^[19] The film centred around an extramarital affair with Patel playing a housewife whose husband cheats on her with a model. To understand the mentality of a wronged wife, Patel spoke to her own grandmother who had undergone a similar situation.^[20] Diganta Guha from Hindustan Times noted “…it’s Ameesha’s performance that remains in your mind. She is dignity personified in the film, playing a woman betrayed in marriage, going all out to save it and in the end choosing her own path.”^[21] Later that year, she appeared alongside Akshaye Khanna and Priyanka Chopra in Dharmesh Darshan’s Aap Ki Khatir. After appearing in a series of box office flops during 2002–2006, Patel’s career prospects began to improve in 2007 when she saw moderate success with Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., playing the role of Karan Khanna’s talkative wife who tries to overcome her husband’s gay leanings. Patel’s comic timing in the film was well received.^[22] She later co-starred opposite Akshay Kumar inPriyadarshan’s hit Bhool Bhulaiyaa as a rejected adopted girl who is accused of trying to disrupt the marriage of her childhood crush. In an attempt to renew her image, Patel appeared in a bikini item number, Lazy Lamhe, in Kunal Kohli’s Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic(2008). She learned scuba diving for the song that took 15 days to complete.^[23][24] Although the film flopped at the box office, Patel managed to garner attention for her appearance.^[25] Post the release of Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Patel signed on to Run Bhola Run and Chatur Singh Two Star. However, both films were continuously delayed despite reaching completion in 2009. She next attempted a comeback by signing on to Rajkumar Santoshi’sPower, but the film was shelved. Despite repeated attempts to land a starring role, Patel dropped out of several projects due to various reasons. Following a two-and-a-half year sabbatical, Patel made a brief comeback to the Telugu film industry with Parama Veera Chakra (2011) alongside Nandamuri Balakrishna; the film flopped. Chatur Singh Two Star released in the same year and marked her return to Hindi cinema after three years since the release of Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic. However, the film was poorly received both critically and commercially.^[26]

Production and new prospects, 2011–present

On April 23, 2011, Patel hosted an event launching her production company, Ameesha Patel Productions, in collaboration with her friend and business partner Kuunal Goomer.^[27] David Dhawan and Priyadarshan were signed on to direct films for her banner.^[28][29][30] In 2013, Patel co-starred in Abbas-Mustan’s Race 2 as Anil Kapoor’s ditzy assistant. Despite being a critical failure, the film was a commercial success. Patel is set to star alongside Neil Nitin Mukesh in Susi Ganeshan’s Shortcut Romeo, a Hindi remake of his own 2006 Tamil hit Thiruttu Payale.^[31] As of February 2013, Patel will resume filming Bhaiyyaji Superhitt opposite Sunny Deol.^[32]

Other work

Stage performances

Patel performed in a number of concerts and world tours during her career. Her first world tour, The Roshans: Hrithik Live in Concert(2001), along with Hrithik Roshan was performed across India. In 2004, Patel took part in a series of concerts in the world tour Craze 2004 alongside Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan and Lara Dutta. In 2005, Patel participated in Adnan Sami’s world tour Kuch Dil Se… that was performed across USA and Canada from April 15 till May 15.^[33] In October 2008, she participated in Himesh Reshammiya’s comeback concert Karzzzz Musical Curtain Raiser joined by Neha Dhupia, Riya Sen and Amrita Arora.^[34] In December 2008, she took part in Akshay Kumar’s Christmas Eve show Chandni Chowk to Hong along with Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra, Riya Sen, Aarti Chhabria, Himesh Reshammiya and Punjabi rapper Bohemia as part of a promotional campaign for Kumar’s film Chandni Chowk to China (2009).^[35] In response to 26/11, many New Year’s Eve concerts for 2009 were cancelled,^[36] but Patel and Country Club India decided to go ahead with their show because they thought it would be against the terrorists’ will.

Humanitarian work

In September 2004, Patel joined PETA, one of the organizations championing the cause of animals, as part of an advertising campaignwhich highlights the lives of captivated animals in a zoo who are robbed of their natural surroundings for the amusement of others. Patel posed as a petrified prisoner in a jail cell to throw focus on the plight of animals in zoos. She said,

George Washington, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi… we had them. Animals don’t; they need us. Let’s fight for their freedom.^[37]

In February 2005, along with other Bollywood stars, Patel performed at the HELP! Telethon Concert raising money for the victims of the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.^[38] She also took part in the Temptations 2005 charity function in New Delhi on 24 December 2005 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in aid of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled Persons (NCPEDP), a leading disabled rights’ group.^[39] In November 2006, Patel joined an NGO called PlanetRead, which helps people in villages to learn reading through film songs.^[40] In October 2007, Patel along with John Abraham and Kirron Kher joined the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to curbhuman trafficking in India.^[41]

Personal life

In 1999, Patel met filmmaker Vikram Bhatt on the set of their first movie together, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage (2002),^[42] and they started dating since the film’s release. Later, it caused a rift between the Patel and Bhatt families^[43] with Patel running through a financial crisis after her parents used all her hard-earned money for their personal satisfaction causing misunderstandings between Patel and her parents.^[44] In July 2004, Patel sent a legal notice to her father for mismanaging her accounts and assets amounting to Rs 120 million and demanding the money back.^[45] Patel’s relationship with Bhatt was often reported to the media spectaculating a possible marriage.^[46] In January 2008, the media reported that Patel and Bhatt broke their five-year relationship. Bhatt confirmed the break-up in a conversation with Mid-Day.^[47] Shortly afterwards, Patel’s parents explained their willingness to reconcile with their daughter and that “everybody is happy about the break-up” but their relationship remained strained.^[48] On 12 March 2008, Patel was spotted with London-based businessman Kanav Puri at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week.^[49] In June 2008, she confirmed their relationship in an interview with Mid-Day: “I did not admit to Kanav sooner because he’s very special and I did not want to jinx it. It was too precious for me to talk about it to people. It’s almost six months now and now I am feeling secure and now I know our relationship is too strong for anything or anyone to come between us.”^[50] The media once reported that she got married to Puri but she denied these rumors.^[51] In August 2009, Mumbai Mirror reported that Patel and her brother, Ashmit, had patched up on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and were spotted together at PVR Cinemas in Juhu. Although the siblings agreed that the matter is sorted, they preferred not to speak about it publicly.^[52] In December 2009, Patel’s mother Asha had revealed they have finally ended their five-year estrangement during an interview with Times of India.^[53] In September 2010, Mumbai Mirror reported that Patel broke off the relationship with her long-time boyfriend Kanav Puri, to focus on her career.^[54] She confirmed it via Twitter.^[55]

Controversy

In August 2006, an Air India employee had filed a police complaint, alleging Patel had misbehaved with her after her companion was not upgraded to first class on the Mumbai-New York flight on August 18. Patel was on her way to attend India’s Independence Day parade in New York.^[56][57] Officers at the police station said Patel could be called in and warned about her behavior, if charges against her are proved, and would be questioned once she returns from abroad.^[58] Later, CISF personnel have corroborated the Air India employees’ version of the incident.^[59] Once Patel returned to India, she stated that the employees “are only trying to safeguard themselves by filing a false complaint against us.”^[60] Incidentally, there was also a drunken passenger, who joined in this verbal fight.^[61] Afterward, the organizers of the annual parade sent a written apology and a clarification to Patel and said it had booked two first class seats for Patel and her companion for the Mumbai-New York flight but the booking was automatically transferred from one flight to another, creating confusion.^[62]

In the media

Between 2002 and 2005, Patel made an appearance in a number of talk shows such as Rendezvous with Simi Garewal and The Manish Malhotra Show. In 2006, Patel appeared as the guest judge on the special Valentine’s Day episode of the singing talent contest, Indian Idol 2. Patel is frequently cited as one of the sexiest Bollywood actresses.^[63][64][65] Rediff featured Patel as one of Bollywood’s sexiest actresses^[63] and top Bollywood actresses of 2001.^[66] She was ranked first on Rediff’s list of 2008′s Sexiest Actresses.^[64] Patel was also cited by Rediff as one of 2008′s Sexiest Magazine Cover Girls.^[67]