Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu eyes Bollywood and a film with Shah Rukh Khan

A model and Punjabi film actress before her win, the beauty queen says she wants to 'break stereotypes of what women are' in the movie industry

The new Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu of India gestures to the audience after being crowned at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant. EPA

Harnaaz Sandhu waves after being crowned Miss Universe. AP Photo

Miss Universe contestants congratulate Miss India, Harnaaz Sandhu, as she is crowned Miss Universe. AFP

India's Harnaaz Sandhu waves after being crowned Miss Universe 2021 during the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel. AP Photo

Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza, right, crowns India's Harnaaz Sandhu as Miss Universe 2021. AP Photo

Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira, left, embraces Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu after the winner is announced. AFP

Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu, right, reacts as she wins Miss Universe 2021. EPA

Outgoing Miss Universe Andrea Meza of Mexico places a crown on the head of Miss Universe winner Harnaaz Sandhu of India. Reuters

Harnaaz Sandhu poses during the pageant. EPA

The top three finalists: Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane, Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu, and Miss Paraguay Nadia Ferreira. EPA

Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu during the swimsuit competition of the 70th Miss Universe pageant. AFP

Harnaaz Sandhu wears a maroon cap-sleeved one-piece swimsuit during the swimwear portion of the competition. AFP

US television and pageant host Steve Harvey asks Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu the final question during the 70th Miss Universe competition. AFP

During the national costume segment, she wore a gold embellished lehenga, and carried a traditional wedding parasol. AFP

Harnaaz Sandhu during the preliminary stage of the 70th Miss Universe pageant. AFP

With two Punjabi films to her credit, it was only a matter of time before new Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu set her sights on Bollywood. It's almost a rite of passage for beauty queens in India with Sandhu's two predecessors, Sushmita Sen, Miss Universe 1994, and Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Miss Universe 2000, having both made the leap into the Hindi film industry.

"Given a chance, I would love to be a part of it, because that has been my dream. I am an actor by profession, I've done theatre from the last five years," Sandhu, 21, told The Times of India.

"I have a vision of influencing people and breaking stereotypes of what women are and what they can be, and that can happen through acting. Because in today's times, people get so intimidated, so influenced by movies. That's the way I can influence people and inspire them by following my passion, just doing the best for the society."

Sandhu, a model, beat 79 other contestants to clinch the Miss Universe 2021 crown at a glittering ceremony in Eilat, Israel, becoming the third Indian woman to win the title.

Asked which actor she'd like to make her Bollywood debut with, Sandhu chose superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

"I share a lot of respect and love for Shah Rukh Khan. The amount of hard work he has done and is still doing, it's never enough I think. But he has always stayed grounded, he has always managed the success," she told the publication.

"And the way he has been talking in every interview, that really inspired me, that it's just about your attitude that takes you places. He is a wonderful artist and a wonderful human being."

For a director to work with she picked Sanjay Leela Bhansali, known for his extravagant films including Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Padmaavat (2018), which both rank among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.

"I am excited to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali," Sandhu said. "I love the way he works, I love the quality, the art, the feeling and the depth of each and every detail that's in his movies and his work."

For now, Sandhu will move to New York City, the headquarters of the Miss Universe Organisation, where for a year she will take part in various social projects until she crowns her successor in 2022.

Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from the Miss Universe 2021 pageant: