Ash, Sush, Lara, Priyanka in Tamil cinema before Bollywood

An interesting fact is that many Indian beauty queens were signed on for Tamil films before Hindi ones.
Aishwarya Rai made her acting debut with Mani Ratna's Iruvar in 1997, Sushmita Sen was roped in for Ratchagan but first appeared on screen in Dastak, Lara Dutta was to make her debut in Arasatchi, but the film got shelved owing to financial difficulties, Priyanka Chopra made her acting debut in 2002 in Thamizhan; Yukta Mookhey made her first screen appearance (albeit a guest appearance) in Poovellam Un Vasam in 2001.