Koena's birthday party pics

Item girl Koena Mitra celebrated her birthday in style at Kir on Mumbai. (Photo: IANS)

Her friends and colleagues came to wish on her 31st birthday. (Photo: IANS)

Actress Koena Mitra made a sizzling entry into Bollywood with a hot item number 'Khullam Khulla' in Ram Gopal Verma's Road. (Photo: IANS)

Born on 7th January in Kolkata, Koena had a very strong conviction to pursue a career in modeling since she was in school. (Photo: IANS)

She did her schooling from South Point High School in Kolkata. After joining Lady Brabourne College in Kolkata, she started taking modeling assignments.

Though she started her career in the modeling industry at a very young age, she decided to make a slow and steady start. She got some big names to endorse like Clinic All Clear, Maruti Alto and Mirinda at an early age.

But she rose to fame only after winning the Gladrags Mega Model, 2002 title.

After this success followed lots of modeling assignments and offers to shoot for music videos.

Stereo Nation's Ishq and Channo by Jassi are some of the famous videos which made Koena a recognizable face in the glamour world.

All these modeling assignments and shootings enhanced her skills so that she got comfortable before the camera.

So Koena Mitra's entry into Bollywood was a rage. A sizzling item number 'Khullam Khulla' in Ram Gopal Verma's ‘Road' was a trendsetter of that time.

Though she made some small appearances in films like Musafir, Dhool etc yet she made her presence felt in Bollywood.

Her first film as a lead actress was Suparn Verma's Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena.

She was cast opposite Fardeen Khan in this film.

Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena had a lukewarm response but Koena was raring to go in the film industry.

She proved herself in Apna Sapna Money, Money as the film did a very good business.

The film was appreciated and so was Koena's acting talent.

Koena has done couple of other films too like Cash, Heyy Babyy, Agar, Anamika but she is yet to be among the A-listers of the film indstury.

But last year the actress was in news not because of her film but because she underwent a plastic surgery to sharpen her nose.

Koena admitted that it was a wrong decision because she used to look better before the surgery.

In an interview she said, ".” It was a wrong decision that I took and I don't blame anyone for it."

In fact rumors suggested that Koena also had silicon implants to enhance her twin assets but the actress has dismissed it strongly.

But being an outsider, her entry to Bollywood hasn't been a cakewalk for her. She works very hard to keep fit and prepare herself for the challenges ahead.

In fact she is a fitness freak. She makes sure that she doesn't miss her gym even after her busy schedule.

According to her it's eating right and regular exercise which keeps her body in a fabulous shape.

In fact she prefers to done stunts on her own as she is a trained in Tai Chi and kick boxing.

Koena Mitra is a wonderful dancer too. In fact she was in Mamata Shankar Ballet troupe for almost 12 years.

She's also trained in Latin and Hip Hop.

Besides her acting and dancing talent, Koena is a very good make-up artist too.

Her talent doesn't end here only. Her favourite pastime is to design her house and clothes.

She loves driving and so she has a fetish for luxury cars. When it comes to food, she loves sea food.