DNA (February 8, 2016)

Of late Priyanka Chopra has gained major focus for being selected to present an award at the Oscars ceremony on February 29, but the fact is: she is not the first Indian actress to do so, as reported. It was Persis Khambatta, a Parsi girl born and bred in Mumbai who first became the face of Indian beauty in the giant US-based film industry. Khambatta (October 2, 1948 - August 18, 1998) created celluloid history in 1979 when she sported a bold, bald pate as the memorable Lt Ilia in the immensely successful Star Trek: the Motion Picture. In the 60s, she was hailed by the American media as “the prettiest Indian girl to be seen in the US in many years” during her stint at the Miss World contest in Miami. In 1980, she became the first Indian to present an award at the Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles.