Kushboo

Child artist

Khushbu started her career as a child artist in Hindi film The Burning Train (1980) in the song "Teri Hai Zameen Tera Aasman". Between 1980–1985 as a child artist she did Hindi films such as Naseeb, Laawaris, Kaalia, Dard Ka Rishta, Bemisal, and various others.

Bollywood

Khushbu played the significant supporting role of Anil Kapoor's sister in super hit Meri Jung (1985), and danced with Javed Jaffrey in his first dancing role on screen in the super-duper hit song "Bol Baby Bol, Rock'n Roll".

Khushbu played her first main lead in Jaanoo (1985) opposite Jackie Shroff. She also starred in Tan-Badan (1986) opposite Govinda, which was the first lead role for Govinda.

Khushbu played a significant supporting role in Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin (1990), which also starred Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit. Her dance number "Sare Ladkon Ki Kar Do Shaadi" had become a major hit, and is still popular at Ladies Sangeet and marriage functions across North India. After that she has mostly been working in South Indian film industries.

South Indian movies

Khushbu was introduced to South Indian screens through the Telugu film Kaliyuga Pandavulu (1986) opposite Venkatesh. After that she moved her base to Chennai and started focusing on Tamil and other South Indian film industries. She has acted in more than 150 films after moving to South.

She has acted opposite leading actors such as Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan, Chiranjeevi, Mammootty, Mohanlal, Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Venkatesh, Tiger Prabhakar, Nagarjuna, Ravichandran, Suresh Gopi, Sathyaraj, and Prabhu.

Temple built for Khushbu by fans

During her peak Khushbu was the leading actress of Tamil cinema. She became the first Indian actress for whom her fans built a dedicated temple. Few temples had been built for Indian male film stars earlier, but Khushbu became the first female film star after whom a dedicated temple was built in India.

Food Dishes, Coffee, Jewellery named after Khushbu

Many restaurants and cafes around Tamil Nadu, and other parts of South India have special dishes and drinks named after Khushbu. Khushbu Idli is a very popular item in many cafes and food joints across South India.

Khushbu Jhumkis, Khushbu Sarees, Khushbu Cocktails, Khushbu Coffee, Khushbu Sharbat, and various other food items/goods were named after Khushbu when she was at peak of her career. Most of them are still on the Menu

Involvement with the Australian football

Khushbu, and sprinter Usain Bolt are the Honorary Members of Richmond Football Club, based in Melbourne, Australia. Khushbu was made the number-one ticket holder of Richmond Football Club in 2016, and is the number-one female ticket holder for Richmond Tigers in 2017. She is the first Indian celebrity to be bestowed with such honour in the AFL.

Khushbu was introduced to AFL Footy (Australian Rules Football) by Former Ministerial Adviser Mr Nitin Gupta, and Former Victorian Premier Hon. Ted Baillieu. She had agreed to help promote the AFL Footy in India after taking a tour of Richmond Football Club.

AFL Footy is set debut on Indian screens in the movie Oh Andha Naatkal, which would also star Khushbu.

Offer to promote Little Indias in Melbourne

On being requested by Former Ministerial Adviser Mr Nitin Gupta, Khushbu offered to help in promotion of Little Indias in Melbourne, Australia by becoming its Brand Ambassador. This offer was based on volunteer basis, as a goodwill gesture to engage and help small businesses owned by Victorian Indian community.

She is the first Indian celebrity to offer such help for promoting Little India precincts on a volunteer basis.

The Mayor of City of Greater Dandenong Cr. Jim Memeti stated that he thinks that Khushbu would be a fantastic ambassador for Little India in Dandenong, and has submitted the proposal to working group for further consideration.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Khushbu joined the DMK on 14 May 2010. She was welcomed by DMK Leader Karunanidhi at the party headquarters in Chennai. Khushbu quit DMK on 16 June 2014.

Indian National Congress

Khushbu joined the Indian National Congress on 26 November 2014 after meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. She is currently the National Spokesperson of the INC.

Personal life

Khushbu is married to actor/director/producer Sundar C. They have two daughters, Avanthika and Ananditha, after whom they named their production house. She has been living in Chennai for more than 30 years now. Khushbu is a self-proclaimed atheist.

Television

Reality shows

Khushbu has also been a judge in reality shows:

Controversies

In 2005, there was a controversy about her remarks for AIDS awareness. She said that if girls were to have pre-marital sex, they must safe guard themselves and take precautions to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). The Supreme Court dismissed all cases registered against Kushboo for her alleged remarks on pre-marital sex.

In January 2006, Maxim magazine featured a full-page morphed photograph showing Kushboo "posing" nude. Khushboo filed two complaints: defamation and the indecent representation of women. The Supreme Court dismissed the anticipatory bail plea by the magazine's editor.