Actress and former beauty queen Urvashi Rautela served as a judge at Miss Universe India 2026 for the fourth consecutive time, a milestone her team says has created a world record. The event, held in Mumbai, carried particular emotional weight for Urvashi as she shared the stage with her self-described mentor, former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen.

A Reunion with Her Guru

Urvashi spoke at length about what it meant to stand alongside Sushmita at a pageant that both women have shaped in different eras. “Sharing this moment with my first mentor, my guru, and our first-ever Miss Universe, Sushmita Sen, makes it infinitely more special,” Urvashi said. “She was the woman who gave me the wings to fly; when she personally crowned me on my coronation night, which is the rarest thing as she never does it, it became one of the most surreal and cherished moments of my life.”

The bond between the two women stretches back to Urvashi’s early pageant days, and she credited Sushmita’s personal act of crowning her as a turning point in her confidence and career. Notably, Sushmita Sen rarely participates in coronation ceremonies, making the gesture all the more significant in Urvashi’s telling.

Gratitude That ‘Words Can Barely Contain’

Urvashi elaborated on how Sushmita’s faith in her has remained a defining force over the years. “I still wonder why she chose to believe in me, but perhaps some blessings are not meant to be explained, only cherished,” she said. “I feel blessed beyond measure to God, my parents, my family, my fans, my loved ones, and especially my guru Sushmita. I owe a gratitude that words can barely contain. Some dreams are achieved, others transcend imagination. This feels like the latter.”

A Record-Setting Fourth Appearance

Urvashi’s fourth consecutive stint as a judge at Miss Universe India is, according to her team, a world record in the pageant’s history. She marked the occasion by appearing in a striking tricolour gown, drawing considerable attention on the evening. “Our team was told that my fourth consecutive appearance as a judge at Miss Universe India has created a world record and made history, and I am truly humbled and profoundly grateful,” she said.

Pride in Representing India

Urvashi also reflected on a remark she made at Cannes, where an international journalist asked what India meant to her. “I instinctively answered, ‘I am India.’ Today, while judging Miss Universe India 2026 in a tricolour gown, those words feel even more profound. I am immensely proud to be Indian,” she shared.

With her fourth consecutive judging appearance now on record, Urvashi Rautela’s role in shaping India’s Miss Universe pipeline appears set to deepen further in the years ahead.