Actress left IIT for Bollywood, worked with Ajay Devgn, Mahesh Babu. Today, she is a CEO

Remember Mayoori Kango? The light-eyed beauty became an overnight sensation after the songs of the 1996 Mahesh Bhatt film ‘Papa Kehta Hain,’ especially ‘Ghar Se Nikalte Hi,’ took the nation by storm. Although the movie was not a huge hit, her performance as a spoiled brat in search of her father left an impact on the audience.

As per an Indian Express report, Mayoori secured an admission to IIT Kanpur but gave up her seat as Bollywood came calling. She made her acting debut through the 1995 drama film ‘Naseem.’

Mayoori came from a family deeply linked with the world of theatre, but her journey into films happened more by coincidence than design. During a visit to Mumbai to see her mother, she happened to meet filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza, who extended an offer to act in the movie. Though she was reluctant at first, as her board examinations were approaching, she eventually agreed to take on the role.
The movie went on to bag two National Awards for Best Direction and Best Screenplay

Although she appeared in films starring leading men such as Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt in films such as ‘Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet’ and ‘Jung,’ as well as the Telugu film ‘Vamsi’ opposite Mahesh Babu, Kango bid showbiz goodbye in the early 2000s after she tied the knot with an NRI named Aditya Dhillon in 2003 and shifted to the United States. The couple welcomed a son in 2011.

Mayoori built her career in corporate from scratch. As per an India Today report, she completed her MBA degree from City University of New York-Baruch College – Zicklin School of Business. After spending time abroad, Kango eventually relocated to India, choosing Gurgaon as her home, where she began a new chapter of life while raising her child. She resumed her professional journey with Publicis Groupe, stepping into a significant role within the company.

In 2019, she made a career shift and joined Google India, where she took on the position of Industry Head. More recently, she returned to Publicis Groupe, this time taking charge as the Chief Executive Officer of its global delivery division.

What netizens say

Many expressed appreciation for her decision to pursue an alternative career path, noting that it has proven both rewarding and successful. Many highlighted her extensive experience in the advertising industry, where Mayoori Kango held key leadership positions at Google India. Her transition from Google to becoming the CEO of Publicis was described as an impressive progression and a significant professional achievement.

Observers also remarked that it was encouraging to see her establish herself in a serious professional domain, particularly when acting may not have aligned with her long-term interests or when her films did not achieve the expected success.

Some recalled her earlier work in cinema with fondness, mentioning their enjoyment of the music from Papa Kehte Hain as well as her performance in Betaabi.