Editing Lara Dutta (section)

===Debut and early work (2003–2004)===
Dutta made her screen debut in 2003 with ''[[Andaaz]]'', playing Kajal opposite [[Akshay Kumar]]. In the film, Dutta's voice was dubbed by [[Mona Ghosh Shetty]] as the filmmakers wanted two distinct characters for the female leads and they needed Kajal, Dutta's character, to have a high-pitched voice.<ref>{{cite web |title=5 things you didn't know about Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra's Andaaz |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/may/23/13381 |website=Cinestaan |access-date=5 August 2019 |archive-date=5 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805103944/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/may/23/13381 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to Dutta, her role as the tomboy Kajal revealed a new and very private side of her on screen.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/lara-dutta-chat/story-Xt2ARP4QULSh5phth1BY7I.html |title=Lara Dutta chat |date=3 September 2003 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=16 March 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326165146/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/lara-dutta-chat/story-Xt2ARP4QULSh5phth1BY7I.html |archive-date=26 March 2020 |agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref> ''Andaaz'' became a major box office success and won her the [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/news/type/view/id/1192968 |title='Andaaz' Celebrations: Rocking |last=Adarsh, Taran |date=29 August 2009 |website=Bollywood Hungama |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016185910/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/news/type/view/id/1192968 |archive-date=16 October 2014 |access-date=22 July 2013}}</ref> Derek Elley of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' noted that Dutta wins the acting stakes and handle her character reversals with aplomb.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/andaaz-1200541000/ |title=Andaaz Movie Review |work=Variety |date=18 June 2003 |access-date=21 November 2020}}</ref> A critic of ''[[BBC]]'' opined that she "impresses" in emotional scenes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/2003/05/andaaz.shtml |title=Andaaz Review |work=BBC UK |access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref> Later the year, she played Kesar, a village girl opposite [[Abhishek Bachchan]] in ''[[Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/msamd/20030821.htm |title=Sneak preview: Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost |last=Someshwar |first=Savera R  |date=21 August 2003 |website=[[Rediff.com]] |access-date=4 April 2024}}</ref>

Dutta started 2004 with a cameo appearance in ''[[Khakee]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215081557/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5&PHPSESSID=108b9056cd4ca14236f9c6119d34dcce|archive-date=15 February 2008|publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref> in the song "Aisa Jadoo", which went on to become a chartbuster upon release and earned her the [[Stardust Awards|Stardust Award for Exciting New Face]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnnworld.com/stardust.php|title=Stardust Awards&nbsp;– Celebrating New Talent|last=Motwani|first=Ashok|date=21 February 2005|website=Diaspora News & Network|access-date=30 August 2021|archive-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622060014/https://www.dnnworld.com/stardust.php}}</ref> She then played Monica who lures three married men, in ''[[Masti (2004 film)|Masti]]'' which was a commercial success.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=457|title=Masti - Movie - Box Office India|website=boxofficeindia.com}}</ref> Priya Ganapati of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' stated that she plays her character well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/apr/09masti.htm|title=Masti is non-vegetarian fun|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref> In ''[[Bardaasht]]'' which failed to do well at the box office, she played an advocat opposite [[Bobby Deol]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/bardaasht-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtnzk5nje0 |title=BARDAASHT (2004) [12A] - BBFC |date=19 May 2017 |publisher=[[BBFC]] |access-date=10 July 2022 |archive-date=10 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710125409/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/bardaasht-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtnzk5nje0 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Subhash K. Jha]] noted, "As a lawyer Lara delivers her lines with conviction. One wishes there was more of her."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/review/7041.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906155429/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/review/7041.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 September 2004|title = Bollywood Cinema News &#124; Bollywood Movie Reviews &#124; Bollywood Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Bollywood}}</ref> She then appeared in the Tamil film, ''[[Arasatchi]]'', which was supposed to be her debut release in 2002 but due to financial problems, it was postponed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 September 2004 |title=Arasatchi |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/arasatchi-review-tamil-pclv8mcdficgc.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228200919/http://www.sify.com/movies/arasatchi-review-tamil-pclv8mcdficgc.html |archive-date=28 December 2016 |access-date=29 July 2019 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> In her final film of the year, ''[[Aan: Men at Work]]'' she played a police officer's lover opposite Akshay Kumar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jun/04aan.htm|title=The great big testosterone overdrive!|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref> Dutta revealed in an interview that she was offered a role in [[The Matrix (franchise)|''The Matrix'' franchise]] but turned down the offer due to her mother's illness at the time.<ref>{{cite web |title="It is true that I was offered a role in The Matrix" – Lara Dutta |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/it-is-true-that-i-was-offered-a-role-in-the-matrix-lara-dutta/ |website=Bollywood Hungama |date=16 April 2010 |access-date=29 July 2019 |archive-date=29 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729081026/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/it-is-true-that-i-was-offered-a-role-in-the-matrix-lara-dutta/ |url-status=live}}</ref>