Celina-Jaitley

Celina Jaitley (Hindi:, Punjabi: ; born 24 November 1981) is an Indian actress who appears in mainly Bollywood films and former beauty queen. She usually appears in comedy films. She was crowned Femina Miss India Universe in 2001.

Celina Jaitley was born in Kabul, Afghanistan to a Punjabi Hindu father. She has one brother who is serving the Indian army.

Celina grew up in several cities, including Lucknow, where she attended City Monetessori school. She also studied in Berhampur, Orissa when her father was posted there. She has spent most of her time in Kolkata, West Bengal. She has stated in interviews that when she was young she wanted to join the army, either as a doctor or a pilot. She graduated with a degree in commerce from Indira Gandhi National Open University.

Jaitley came in first place at Femina Miss India 2001 winning the title of Femina Miss India Universe 2001. In addition to her title, she won the Miss Margo Beautiful Skin, Indiatimes Surfer's Choice, and MTV's Most Wanted award. She was subsequently sent to the Miss Universe 2001 contest to represent India where she was a finalist and finished in fifth place.

In 2003, she made her film debut in Feroz Khan's Janasheen. In 2007 Jaitley flew to New Zealand and shot her first international movie Love Has No Language, a romantic comedy. Whilst there she was targeted by a stalker who had followed her from India. Jaitley was said to be traumatized by the experience.

Jaitley is slated to play the character of a Persian princess in the film Quest of Scheherzade along with actors Sean Connery and Orlando Bloom. The film is based on Arabian Nights and will be directed by Ken Khan. This will be Celina's first venture into Hollywood. She is also the brand ambassador of Egyptian tourism and D'damas.

Jaitley is also a supporter of the rights and equality of the LGBT community and supports the gay rights movement in India.

Celina Jaitley was vociferous proponent of abolition of Article 377 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), which criminalized homosexuality. The actress once stated that her first boyfriend was a closet gay, who died of bulemia induced problems. She has appeared several times on national TV channels, debating people who oppose of abolition of Article 377.

The actress recently pledged her eyes to Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital, one of the leading eye care hospitals in Mumbai. The hospital had launched the "Care for the eye" program as a social initiative aimed at supporting the cause of eye donation, as part of its 19th anniversary.