In the 90s, Bollywood saw the emergence of so many new actresses who went on to create history in Indian cinema with their work and stardom. Sushmita Sen, Divya Bharti, Pooja Batra, Nagma, Seema Biswas, Nandita Das, Rani Mukerji, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Preity Zinta are a few other talented actresses, who made their way into Bollywood in the 90s. Amidst the entry of all these gorgeous and exceptionally talented actresses, it was one of the most competitive decades for actresses in Hindi cinema.
However, there was one actress, who not only introduced herself to the film industry but even managed to grab the attention of renowned Bollywood directors and producers. She had a perfect balance of beauty and talent, which made her stand out in a crowd of pretty faces. It wasn't a cakewalk to make a name for yourself in the film industry back in the 90s, but its fame and recognition came quite early at the doorstep of Barkha Madan, who is now known by the name, Gyalten Samten.
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It was the year 1996 when Barkha Madan made her acting debut in Bollywood with the film, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, alongside Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon, Rekha and others. Barkha played the character named 'Jane' in the film, which turned out to be the 5th highest-grossing film that year. Despite not playing the lead in the film, she succeeded in making an impact with her character on the big screen. However, due to the intense competition in the film industry, she could not bag a role for the next six years.
Barkha Madan struggled to get a major role in Bollywood despite being part of a blockbuster film, but the stunning diva never stopped believing in her acting skills. As a result, she got a chance to work with the critically acclaimed director, Ram Gopal Varma in his film, Bhoot. Barkha played the pivotal role of a ghost named, Manjeet Khosla in the film that grabbed the attention of so many renowned filmmakers.
Apart from Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi and Bhoot, Barkha Madan worked in a series of films like Samay: When Time Strikes, Soch Lo, Surkhaab, and many more. Not only this, she even worked in the television industry for many years. For the unversed, Barkha was a part of renowned television shows like 1857 Kranti, Ghar Ek Sapnaa, Saat Phere - Saloni Ka Safar, and Nyaay.
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Before making her mark in the Hindi film industry, Barkha Madan worked as a model for many years. For the unversed, she was one of the participants in the Femina Miss India pageant in 1994. While Sushmita was the crowned winner, Aishwarya finished as the first runner-up, and Barkha was named as Miss India Tourism.
As a result, Barkha Madan participated in the inaugural Miss Tourism International pageant and finished the competition in third place. After making a mark in the modelling industry, Barkha decided to enter the Hindi film industry, and it was director, Umesh Mehra, who handed her acting debut in his film, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi.
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In 2012, Barkha Madan announced that she had quit acting and left the Hindi film industry. It was a massive shock to everyone as she was reportedly receiving a series of film projects due to her exceptional acting range. Under the supervision of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Barkha Madan became a Buddhist monk at the Hardong Khangtsen of Sera Jey Monastery in Karnataka and changed her name to Ven. Gyalten Samten.
Right from an early age, Barkha Madan was connected to Buddhism. As per reports, when she was in 6th standard, she visited a monastery in Sikkim and instantly got connected to its culture. After a few years, while working in the film industry, Barkha once again visited the monastery and started getting deeper into the concept of spirituality. The renowned spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, also influenced Barkha Madan heavily, and his teachings made the latter fall in love with Buddhism.
Once, in an old interview, Barkha Madan admitted that when she told her parents about her decision to quit acting and become a Buddhist nun, they fully supported her. As of now, Barkha is living a peaceful life in Tibet's Sera Je Monastery, and every now and then, she posts pictures and videos from there. Well, we are in love with Barkha Madan's journey from being a rising star of the Hindi film industry to quitting acting and leaving her glamorous life to live a peaceful life as a Buddhist nun in Tibet.
What are your thoughts on Barkha Madan's decision to quit acting and living like a Buddhist nun in Tibet? Let us know.
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