Meet the royal star kid who rose with a superhit, fell after an MMS leak, and vanished from Hindi cinema

Riya Sen was not just another star kid—she came from a rare blend of royal heritage and cinematic legacy. A member of the royal family of Tripura, she is the daughter of actress Moon Moon Sen and granddaughter of the legendary Bengali actress Suchitra Sen. With such iconic women in her lineage, Riya was always expected to shine. Her sister, Raima Sen, also followed in the family’s film footsteps, adding more sparkle to this regal family tree.

Riya’s first brush with fame came very early in life. At the age of five, she appeared in the 1991 fantasy-thriller Vishkanya, portraying the daughter of her real-life mother. While it was a blink-and-you-miss appearance, it marked the beginning of what many assumed would be a flourishing Bollywood career.

It was in 2001 that Riya Sen became a household name, thanks to her bold and bubbly role in Style, a college comedy that became a sleeper hit. Audiences loved her on-screen presence, and her glamorous appeal instantly caught the attention of filmmakers and fans alike. The film’s success made her one of the most talked-about newcomers of the early 2000s.

Post-Style, Riya appeared in a string of commercial films including Jhankaar Beats, Shaadi No.1, and Qayamat. She also expanded her horizons with roles in regional films. Notably, her performance in the Malayalam film Ananthabhadram won praise, proving she had acting chops beyond her girl-next-door image.

In 2005, Riya’s promising career was jolted by a major controversy—a leaked MMS clip that allegedly featured her in an intimate moment with actor Ashmit Patel. While both parties denied its authenticity, the incident created a media storm. Overnight, Riya’s on-screen work took a backseat as the scandal dominated headlines. Unfortunately, the industry’s double standards meant that the incident had a lasting impact on her career.

After Bollywood doors started to close, Riya didn’t give up. She turned towards Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu cinema where she managed to carve a niche for herself. In 2017, she made a bold return to the screen with ALTBalaji’s web series Ragini MMS: Returns, embracing the digital medium and proving she wasn’t afraid to reinvent herself.

Today, Riya may be less active in mainstream films, but she remains an intriguing personality in Indian cinema. Her journey—marked by privilege, potential, scandal, and strength—continues to be remembered by fans who grew up in the early 2000s. Whether for her beauty, boldness, or the twists in her career, Riya Sen remains a story Bollywood won’t forget.