Padma Lakshmi's Profile and Biography,aslo include Padma Lakshmi's pictures,videos etc.

Padma Lakshmi

Born in New Delhi in 1971, Padma Lakshmi spent most of her adolescence in the United States. From a very young age Padma knew she was beautiful. In fact, she recalls having worn her first seductive dress at only 9 years old. It was always her dream to be a model.

Her mother, however, insisted that Padma get a college degree first, telling her that if she was beautiful at 17, she'd be beautiful at 21, with a degree in hand. Around this time, Padma got into a serious car accident, which left a 7-inch scar on her right arm. This would become her signature feature, that curious imperfection that makes her all the more lovely and exotic.

padma goes global

She attended Clark University in Massachusetts and got a BA in theater arts. Her last semester of college was spent in Spain, where she landed her first modeling job. She also caught the attention of Helmut Newton, a photographer notorious for his stylish female nudes. Giant fashion mags like Vogue, Elle and Glamour rushed to get her decadent body in their pages as well.

After graduating, she moved to Italy for a few years, where she co-hosted the TV show Domenica in Rai. She also trekked across the international runways for such labels as Versace, Armani and Ralph Lauren. While trotting the globe, Padma, an unabashed foodie, picked up and compiled low-fat recipes from every imaginable country. Her amassed culinary adventures culminated in Easy Exotic: A Model's Low-Fat Recipes from Around the World, a cookbook that became a bestseller.

padma hits the big screen

In her frequent returns to her subcontinent home, Padma starred in two Bollywood films, Caribbeans and Sandokan: The Darkness and the Light. She became so recognized in India, that American studios tried to capitalize on her talents. She was cast as Sylk in the 2001 box-office bomb Glitter, with Mariah Carey. That same year, she guest-starred in an episode of the Star Trek spin-off Enterprise.

In 2003, Padma starred in her biggest Bollywood flick yet: Boom, the story of three Indian supermodels caught in a diamond heist. But sadly for her, this movie tanked as well. But box-office success (or the lack thereof) proved no hindrance to the model's love life. She started dating Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie, with whom she created a cinematic partnership.

lakshmi hosts padma's passport

Her cookbook sold so well that the Food Network gave her a show, Padma's Passport, in which she travels the world tasting the most exotic dishes imaginable.

Meanwhile, Padma is creating her own film production company, Lakshmi Productions. Her first film is reported to be based on a short story by the love-stricken 56-year-old Rushdie, The Firebird's Nest. It will, of course star the gorgeous Padma.

Padma Lakshmi currently lives in Manhattan, where she and Rushdie have separate apartments.