Exclusive pics by Rons Bantwal - Daijiworld News Network - Mumbai
News: Press trust of India

 
Mumbai, Mar 26: In a star-studded function, Aarti Thakur from Mumbai was crowned No Marks Mrs India World 2006 in Mumbai.

She will now represent India in the Mrs World 2006 crown at St Petersberg, Russia, on April 23, 2006 when women from over 50 countries will vie for the coveted title.

Frainy Ahuja was crowned the second runners up while Lavanya Rajesh was adjudged the first runners up.

The judges were model and actress Amrita Arora, Zeenat Aman, actor Arbaz Khan, fashion designer Neeta Lulla, former Miss India Diya Mirza, and Mahesh Gupta.

Aarti Thakur, who is a fitness trainer and a mother of two, said she wanted to win the crown in order to prove herself and fulfil her ambition of taking up modelling as a career and start a grooming school of her own.

Arathi Takhur and Nishitha Bandari of Udupi

It was the only one of its kind zonal pageant with four elimination rounds with introduction, swim suit, evening gown and question and answers, after which the ten semifinalists were Aarti Thakur, Frainy Ahuja, Nelanjana Arora, Meenakshi Sharma, Vibhuti Thakur, Nazma Nasir, Waheeda Johar, Sanddhya Suryavanshi, Lavanya Rajesh and Smita Singhal.

Nishitha Bandari

More on the contest

agency report

"I would forgive him if he cheated on me," Mrs India World 2006 Aarti Thakur said when she was asked by Amrita Arora - 'If your husband would cheat on you and later come and confess. What would you do? Would you forgive or forget him?'

First runner-up Lavanya Rajesh, Second Runner-up Fraina Ahuja and Bangalore girl Vandana Jain

Thakur said, "We all make mistakes in life. I would definitely forgive him because for me marriage is not a union of two bodies, marriage for me is the union of two souls and I know I have found my soul mate and I would forgive him because he has come and acknowledged and accepted the fact that he has made a mistake and that I am sure he would never do it again."

The Mumbaiite won the Mrs India World 2006 on Saturday and is slated to represent India in St. Petersburg, Russia on April 23 at the finals of Mrs World 2006 contest. The first runner up was Lavanya Iyer from Mumbai, followed by Frainy Ahuja from Chandigarh.

The show started with star couple Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi playing the perfect hosts. Their chemistry on stage was worth noticing, their gags funny and their presence endearing.

Performances from Dino Morea who danced to Jhalak dikhlaja, Jara jhoom jhoom and Musu Musu hasi with kids and Sukhwinder Singh were okay but Koena Mitra stole the show as she gyrated to the music of Chalta jaye ishq musafir, and Saki Saki in her surreal white outfit.

The show began with the contestants introducing themselves to the audience, followed by a swimsuit and saree round designed by Gautam Raka, which the women displayed with oomph and grace.

Diya Mirza

Though they did not have to walk the ramp, the jury members made quite a style statement. The legendary Zeenat Aman was dressed in a casual blue pathani salwar, with a short blue crepe kurta. Arbaaz Khan was present in a complete black ensemble, his sister-in-law Amrita Arora who wore beige and chocolate chiffon frock was looking quite charming. Diya Mirza who wore a baby pink with silver shimmer chiffon saree and teamed it up with diamond danglers outwitted fashion designer Neeta Lulla. Lulla had chosen a shocking red chiffon saree with a bikini blouse for the occasion.

Post performances and gags' came the final question that was, 'What is the one most important virtue that is required for a married working woman with kids in a marriage?'

Thakur who has been a fitness expert with Terence Lewis Academy for the last three years and has been married for six years to Deepak Thakur said, "Sacrifice. It's only then you can manage work and home beautiful and give hundred percent to both."

We asked Thakur who also won the Miss Beautiful Smile title if she has any kids. To which she said, "I have two dogs – a German shepherd and a Labrador who are as dear to me as kids."

Thakur was contesting along with her childhood friend and sister-in-law Vibhuti. "Vibhuti was then dating her husband Yashpal. Since she needed me to tag as an excuse to go out with him. Sometimes I would get really bored sitting there waiting for them to finish their mushy talks. So one day Yashpal got his brother Deepak along to give me company. The rest they say is history."