Riya Sen (born Riya Dev Varma in Kolkata, India on January 24, 1981) is an Indian film actress and model. Sen, who hails from a family of actors including her grandmother Suchitra Sen, mother Moon Moon Sen and sister Raima Sen, began her acting career in 1991 as a child artiste in the film Vishkanya at the age of 15. Her first commercial success in her film career was with Style, a 2001 Hindi low-budget sex comedy directed by N.Chandra. Her other notable films were producer Pritish Nandi's musical film, Jhankar Beas (2001) in Hinglish, director David Dhavan's comedy film, Shaadi No 1 (2005) and director-cinematographer Santosh Sivan's Malayalam horror film Ananthabhadram (2005).Riya was first recognised as a model when she performed in Falguni Pathak's music video Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi at the age of 16. Since then she has appeared in music video, television commercials, fashion shows, and magazine covers.
Riya has worked as an activist, and has appeared in an AIDS awareness music video with the aim of dispelling popular myths about the disease. She helped raise funds for pediatric eye-care. Riya has faced controversies such as an infamous MMS clip with actor Ashmit Patel, her semi-nude photograph on photographer Dabboo Ratnani's annual calender and her on-screen kisses in a conservative Indian film industry.
Riya Sen is considered a major sex symbol in Bollywood. She has shared many on screen kisses with her co-stars which is considered inappropriate in India. She became an actress at a very young age and has appeared on the cover of many magazines. She is also an advertising model for several big companys. She became a popular model when she appeared in numerous music videos for songs by popular Indian singers.
