Known in the industry as the Khallas girl, Isha Koppikar shot to fame with her song number in Ram Gopal Verma's movie Company. This 5'7" Mumbai beauty was born in 1976. Isha's performance in Company mezmerised movie go-ers. This tall, beautiful and talented girl turned her walk-on role to a have-to-see-again experience.

She had actually started her glamour career with modelling. Modelling assignments trickled in after she did a photo shoot with Gautam Rajyadhyaksha when she was still in junior college. But that was just the beginning. Some of the bigger names that she had modeled for are Deepam sarees,Ponds, Camay, Rexona, Synergy, Coke, L'Oreal and Tips & Toes. She also did about five or six ramp shows. But in 1995, at the Miss India 1995 contest, she won the Miss Talent crown.

Coming from a family of academics, she felt compelled to finish her degree in LIfe Sciences in Ruia College, Mumbai. After completing her degree, her first film was in Tamil, En Swasa Katre. She was cast opposite Arvind Swamy, who was at the peak of his fame at that time. The film got rave reviews and she was expected to be a big hit in the south.

However, she softly entered Bollywood. Her first film, Ek Tha Dil Ek Thi Dhadkan, directed by Shah Rukh Sultan in 1997, never saw the light of day. Then it was back to the south to do her second film with Tamil superstar Prashant. She managed to do about ten films in the south and worked in all South Indian languages except Malayalam. Her performance in Tamil film 'Kaathal Kavithai' fetched her the Filmfare award for the best newcomer in the south in 2000-01.

Though her work was in the South, her heart was set on making a name for herself in Mumbai. She did small roles in Fiza and Pyar, Ishq aur Mohabbat. But she got the much wanted and needed break from Ram Gopal Verma.

Isha loves to make friends and chat on the net. She loves dancing but not at discos---she likes to start her day early. Besides painting and making candles in her free-time, she loves to gobble-up her mother's cooking. She is a self-proclaimed food-freak in love with butter chicken, biryani, seafood and chinese.

After Khallas, producers have been lining up with offers. Some of the offers that she has in hand are Sanjay Gupta's multistarrer Kaante, Plan with Dino Morea, a Harry Baweja venture, and of course, more movies with Ram Gopal Verma.

Best of Luck, Isha!