She is best known for her roles in «Slumdog Millionaire» (2008), for which she was nominated for a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actress, and Planet of the Apes (2011). Before her acting career, she studied English literature, psychology and economics at St. Xavier's College in Bombay and worked as a model. In addition to her film work, especially in Hollywood productions, she promotes humanitarian causes around the world and is especially dedicated to women's rights and living conditions. She is a global ambassador for Plan International's «Because I AM a Girl» programme, which promotes gender equality to lift millions of girls out of poverty, and also collaborates with the NGO We Do It Together, which funds films and documentaries focused on women's empowerment.