Her first appearance was as a child artist in the television series Kora Kagaz in 1998 and continued to do so in films Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), Mann (1999) and Kuch Naa Kaho (2003). In 2014, Afroz made her Bollywood screen debut as an adult in the thriller film The Xposé, which emerged as a commercial success.[5] Afroz has also worked in various television commercials since she was a child artist.[4] Afroz promotes education for girls and offers help to women in marginalized sections in acquiring financial independence. She works towards aiding women to acquire basic knowledge and supports the rights of women to get equal opportunity.[6][7]
Afroz started her career when she was 3 years old. She got her break from the Rasna-sponsored Mahasearch Contest at the age of 3, after which she was featured in a commercial for the same.[14]
She appeared in the television series Kora Kagaz in 1998.[15] She was spotted by Rajshri Productions and was offered a role in Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999). She played the role of Neelam Kothari's daughter in the film, which was a commercial and box-office success.[16]
At the age of 17, she worked in a Punjabi movie titled Sadi Gali Aaya Karo (2012).[21] As an adult, she made her Bollywood debut in 2014 film, The Xposé.[22]Taran Adarsh described her role by stating: “The leading lady, Zoya Afroz [as Chandni], looks glamorous and had enacted her parts in the film with confidence”.[23] She was later signed up in a Tamil movie titled Thamizhan Endru Sol, but the film was unreleased.[24]
In 2017, Afroz appeared as a lead alongside Himansh Kohli in the film Sweetiee Weds NRI.[25][26] She expressed - “I was waiting for such a film. So when it came, I grabbed it with both my hands. Earlier, the film I did has quite a serious role. This one is quite fun and I wanted to do something that could connect with the youth and I could play my age onscreen.”[27] She worked in a Tamil film Paamban in 2019.[28] She modelled for the 2020 edition of the annual Kingfisher Calendar in Western Cape, South Africa, and was featured in the March and June pages for the same.[29][30] She was cast as a lead in the Hindi film Kabaad - The Coin, along with Vivaan Shah. The film was released digitally on February 13, 2021, on Voot.[31] Afroz was signed up in a MX Player's thriller web show titled 'Matsya Kaand', and she will co-star alongside Ravi Dubey and Madhur Mittal.[32] She was selected as a main cast in a spy thriller called 'Mukhbir - The Story of a Spy'.[33]
Afroz competed in the Femina Miss Indore 2013 contest at the age of 18, where she won the title. She acquired a direct entry as a contestant in the Femina Miss India 2013 pageant. At the end of the grand finale event held on 24 March 2013, in Yash Raj Studios, Mumbai, Afroz was crowned as the second runner-up by Rochelle Rao, Miss India International 2012 (and Top 15 of Miss International 2012).[42][43]
During the final question and answer round of Femina Miss India 2017, the top 5 delegates were asked the same question - “What is the role of a beauty pageant in a country that lacks unity?”, to which Afroz responded:
"As someone who has dreamt to be on stage of such a prestigious pageant, I believe that beauty pageants give great opportunities to young women to excel in their career, and in whichever field they choose to pursue. Beauty pageants recognises that and gives them wings to fly and strengthen and empower them. So, I believe that in our country where we have so much unity, yet so much diversity, a beauty pageant brings girls from different cultures all together, and they get so much to learn from each other, as opposed to the countries which lacks unity. I really feel that pageants helps women to reach their highest potential, and makes them united.[48]"
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