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.

Thereafter, Mahesh Bhatt became impressed with her talent and offered her the lead role in his film 'Papa Kehte Hai'. The movie revolved around a temperamental girl named Sweety who runs off to Seychelles to search for her father whom she had never met. The movie also starred Yugal Hansraj and Anupam Kher in lead roles.

The film, which hit the big screens in 1996, did not do well at the box-office. However, the music composed by Rajesh Roshan became a huge hit.

After her early breakthrough, she went on to feature in a string of movies, including Betaabi, released in 1997, Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet in 1999, and Badal in 2000. For a brief period, she is said to have explored opportunities in the South Indian film industry. During this phase, she appeared opposite popular Telugu actor Mahesh Babu in the film Vamsi (2000). Interestingly, that project also included Namrata Shirodkar in the cast, who would later become Mahesh Babu’s wife.

Beyond films, Kango expanded her career into the television space. She took on roles in several serials such as Dollar Bahu in 2001, Nargis, Thoda Gham Thodi Khushi, and Karishma: The Miracles of Destiny in 2003. In the latter, she portrayed the on-screen daughter of actress Karishma Kapoor. According to her IMDb profile, these projects marked her active presence on the small screen alongside her film work.

In an interview with the Times Of India, she said, "I did about 16 films, and half of them never released. The 1990s weren't a great time for actresses. All they had to do was dance around trees. So, I took up other jobs like writing scripts and making documentaries. In 2000, I entered the TV industry. In a few years, I got married and shifted to the US."

In an old interview with Lehren, Kango admitted that being a "corporate woman" was her dream.

"My dream was never to be an actress. Becoming an actress was nothing new to me. However, becoming an engineer or going for an MBA, having your own office, and being a corporate woman was my dream," she said.

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.

Now settled in India with her family, Mayoori keeps a low profile away from the limelight. Describing herself as a "passionate marketer" on LinkedIn, she emphasizes her love for digital media and continuous learning.

"I love everything about digital media and the possibilities it contains for marketing in the new world. I am always looking to learn new things and face new challenges. My primary objective is to be an informed marketer in order to provide the best business solutions to my clients and company," she wrote in the 'About' section of her profile.

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.