More than two decades after winning the Miss World crown in 1999, Yukta Mookhey is still remembered for her regal poise and elegance. But in a rare, candid interview, the former beauty queen peeled back the glamour to talk about what really matters to her—grace, values, and mutual respect among women. While reflecting on her journey, Yukta stirred conversation online with her blunt remark about fellow Miss World winner Priyanka Chopra, who succeeded her in 2000.When asked if there’s anything she admires about Priyanka, Yukta’s response was sharp: “Nothing,” she said, explaining that Chopra is junior to her. She further stated that she guided her on a few things, but refused to further speak about her.


In contrast, Yukta was all praise for 1984 Miss India winner Juhi Chawla, calling her the epitome of elegance and humility. She called Juhi “gracious” and further shared that the actress encouraged her, praised her, and never saw her as a threat and chose to lift her up. That, according to her, was the measure of “true greatness”. She also appreciated the Darr actress for her grounded nature and deep connection to Indian culture and value system. Yukta Mookhey entered the film industry in 2001 with a special appearance in the Tamil film Poovellam Un Vasam, featuring in a song titled after her. She made her Hindi film debut in 2002 with Pyaasa, opposite Aftab Shivdasani, though the film failed at the box office. She went on to sign projects like Kab Kyon Kahan and Hum Teeno in 2003, both of which were eventually shelved. In 2005, she appeared in Memsahab and Love in Japan. The following year, she featured in the music video Kathputali. In 2010, Mookhey took on a more serious role in the Odia film Swayamsiddha, portraying a Maoist rebel.