Who is Rimi Sen? — Actress who worked with ‘Dhurandhar’ star Akhshaye Khanna, now making a name in real estate, Dubai

Back in the early 2000s, you couldn’t really escape Rimi Sen if you watched Bollywood movies. She was everywhere — from ‘Dhoom’ to ‘Hungama’ to ‘Golmaal: Fun Unlimited’, she pretty much owned the big screen for a while. These days, a lot of people might find themselves wondering, “Hey, whatever happened to the Dhoom girl?” Turns out, Rimi swapped the film sets of Mumbai for something totally different: a new chapter in Dubai’s real estate world.

Let’s rewind a bit, see how she got here, and find out what she’s up to now.

Early life and getting into films

Rimi Sen was born Subhamitra Sen in 1981, in Kolkata. She didn’t come from a family with film connections. However, when she started acting as a kid, she was unstoppable. She even landed a role in the Bengali movie ‘Damu’ back in 1996. But her real break came when she decided to move to Mumbai, chasing her acting dreams with her grandfather cheering her on. Before films, she popped up in a bunch of ads, including a pretty memorable soft drink commercial with Aamir Khan. That ad helped her get noticed, and soon enough, Bollywood came calling.

Bollywood breakthrough

Rimi made her Hindi film debut with ‘Hungama’ in 2003. People took notice as she held her own alongside Akshaye Khanna and Paresh Rawal, and audiences liked her. Not long after, she landed a role in ‘Dhoom’ in 2004. That movie blew up. Her character, Sweety, and her chemistry with Abhishek Bachchan made her a familiar name in households everywhere.

For the next few years, Rimi kept the hits coming. She was also featured in movies like ‘Baghban’, ‘Garam Masala’, ‘Kyon Ki’, ‘Phir Hera Pheri’, and ‘Golmaal: Fun Unlimited’. She quickly built a reputation as someone who could lead a comedy, fit right into mainstream Bollywood, and always bring a bit of spark to the screen. She even had a cameo in ‘Dhoom 2’ and took on thrillers like ‘Johnny Gaddaar’, mixing things up.

Beyond the camera and glamour: Trying new things

By the late 2000s, the buzz started to fade. Some of her movies, like ‘De Taali’, ‘Sankat City’, and ‘Thank You’, didn’t do well at the box office. The dramatic roles dried up, and Rimi began to step back from Bollywood. Her last big film was Tigmanshu Dhulia’s action drama ‘Shagird’ in 2011.

She didn’t disappear, though. Rimi popped up on reality TV, joining ‘Bigg Boss 9’ in 2015 and trying to get on ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 9’. These shows kept her in the spotlight, and a whole new crowd got to know her. She also stepped into producing, backing the biopic ‘Budhia Singh – Born to Run’, where she used her real name, Subhamitra Sen.

Why did she walk away from Bollywood?

When the 2010s rolled in, Rimi’s film appearances became rare. During an interview with Bombay Times in 2021, she got honest about her reasons. “Acting pays well and gives you fame. I survived for a decade because of it, and I’ll always respect that. People invite you to events, and actors get paid well. I could become a producer because of my film career, the work I did in my 20s. All of this was possible because I was a known face,” she expressed.

“I quit Bollywood because I was done playing glamorous flower pots in films. It was boring to be used as a glamour prop or be told to take a hankie and fake cry in the background while the hero took centre stage. I want to come back now only if I can be proud of the films I choose. I am proud of my films like ‘Johnny Gaddaar’ and ‘Sankat City,’ but sadly, these films didn’t do well,” she continued.

Starting afresh in Dubai

After stepping away from movies, Rimi dipped her toes into TV and producing — but eventually, she made a big move. She packed her bags for Dubai and started working in real estate, a major shift from her acting days. She’s talked about how much she enjoys the order and respect that come with the job in Dubai’s property market.

Now, Rimi leads a quieter, more grounded life — far from the glitz and chaos of Bollywood. Every now and then, she pops up in the news or on social media, usually because people are still curious about her or can’t get over her old movies. But these days, she’s focused on her work in real estate and her own personal growth, not the spotlight.

Readers Comments