Sonam Kapoor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sonam Kapoor
Kapoor in 2017
Born	(1985-06-09) 9 June 1985 (age 40) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2007–2023
Spouse(s)	Anand Ahuja ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	1
Parent(s)	Anil Kapoor (father)
Relatives	Surinder Kapoor family
Awards	Full list

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja (born June 9, 1985) is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi-language movies, also known as Bollywood films. She has won several awards for her acting, including a National Film Award and a Filmfare Award. From 2012 to 2016, she was featured on Forbes India's list of top celebrities.

Sonam is the daughter of the famous actor Anil Kapoor. Before she started acting, she worked as an assistant director on the 2005 movie Black. Her first acting role was in the 2007 film Saawariya. While that movie wasn't a big success, she later starred in the hit romantic comedy I Hate Luv Storys (2010).

A major turning point in her career was the 2013 movie Raanjhanaa, which earned her much praise. She also had successful supporting roles in the movies Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) and Sanju (2018). One of her biggest hits was the 2015 romance Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.

Kapoor received great acclaim for playing Neerja Bhanot in the 2016 movie Neerja. This role won her a National Film Award and a Filmfare Award. She also starred in the popular 2018 film Veere Di Wedding.

Besides acting, Kapoor is known for her outspoken personality and her unique sense of style. She supports important causes like breast cancer awareness and LGBT rights. She is married to businessman Anand Ahuja, and they have a son.

Early Life and Family

Kapoor with her father Anil Kapoor at a film screening in Mumbai, 2011

Sonam Kapoor was born in Mumbai, India, on June 9, 1985. Her father is the well-known actor and producer Anil Kapoor. Her mother, Sunita, is a designer. Sonam has a younger sister, Rhea, who is a film producer, and a younger brother, Harsh Varrdhan, who is an actor.

Her family is full of people from the film industry. Her uncle is producer Boney Kapoor, and her other uncle is actor Sanjay Kapoor. Her cousins Arjun Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, and Mohit Marwah are also actors.

Kapoor went to the Arya Vidya Mandir school in Juhu, a neighborhood in Mumbai. She enjoyed playing sports like rugby and basketball. She also trained in traditional Indian dance, classical music, and Latin dance.

Before becoming an actress, Kapoor wanted to be a director and writer. When she was a teenager, she got a job as an assistant to director Sanjay Leela Bhansali on his movie Black (2005). This experience sparked her interest in acting.

Acting Career

First Films (2007–2012)

Kapoor with Ranbir Kapoor, Rani Mukerji & Salman Khan at the audio launch of her debut film Saawariya in 2007

While working on Black, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali asked Kapoor to star in his next film, Saawariya (2007). In the movie, she acted alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Salman Khan. Saawariya was the first Indian movie ever produced by a major Hollywood studio, Sony Pictures. However, the film was not a success at the box office.

In 2009, she starred in the movie Delhi-6. Although the film received mixed reviews, critics praised Kapoor's performance, calling her a "revelation."

Her first big hit came in 2010 with the romantic comedy I Hate Luv Storys, where she starred with Imran Khan. Later that year, she played the main character in Aisha, a movie based on Jane Austen's novel Emma.

After these films, she appeared in a few movies that did not do well, including Thank You (2011) and Players (2012).

Breakthrough and Success (2013–2015)

Kapoor promoting Raanjhanaa on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in 2013

The year 2013 was a turning point for Kapoor. She starred in the romantic drama Raanjhanaa as Zoya Haider, a young student from Varanasi. To prepare for the role, she spent time with university students and theatre groups. Her performance was highly praised by critics and audiences. The movie was a box office hit, and she was nominated for her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

That same year, she had a small but important role in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a movie about the life of Indian athlete Milkha Singh. The film was a huge success and won many awards.

In 2014, she starred in the romantic comedy Khoobsurat. The following year, she appeared in the comedy Dolly Ki Doli.

Her biggest commercial success came in 2015 with the movie Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, where she starred opposite Salman Khan. She played a princess named Maithili. The film became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time.

Acclaim for Neerja and Other Roles (2016–2018)

Kapoor at an event for Neerja in 2016. Her performance in the film won her a National Film Award – Special Mention and a Filmfare Best Actress (Critics).

In 2016, Kapoor starred in the biographical thriller Neerja. She played the role of Neerja Bhanot, a brave flight attendant who saved hundreds of passengers during the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986. Kapoor met with Bhanot's family to prepare for the role.

Her performance was called the best of her career by many critics. She won a National Film Award – Special Mention and a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress. Neerja was also a major box office success.

In 2018, she starred in Pad Man with Akshay Kumar. The film was inspired by the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social activist who worked to provide low-cost sanitary pads to women in rural India.

On May 8, 2018, Kapoor married businessman Anand Ahuja. That same year, she starred in Veere Di Wedding, a film about four female friends, alongside Kareena Kapoor and Swara Bhaskar. She also had a role in Sanju, a movie about the life of actor Sanjay Dutt. Both films were very successful.

Recent Work (2019–Present)

In 2019, Kapoor starred in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga with her father, Anil Kapoor. The film was praised for its story about a young woman coming out to her conservative family. Later that year, she appeared in The Zoya Factor.

Kapoor and her husband had a son in August 2022. After taking a break from acting, she returned in the 2023 thriller Blind, which was released on the streaming service JioCinema.

In the Media

Kapoor in 2017

As a member of a famous acting family, Sonam Kapoor has been in the public eye since she was young. She is known for being one of the highest-paid actresses in Bollywood.

Kapoor is also famous for her sense of fashion and is often called a "style icon." She has appeared on many "best-dressed" lists and has won awards for her style. She is also known for speaking her mind, and her honest opinions have sometimes caused a stir in the media.

She is very popular on social media sites like Twitter and has millions of followers. She has endorsed many popular brands, including L'Oréal, Colgate, and Mont Blanc.

Activism and Charity Work

Kapoor attends a Cuddles Foundation fundraiser in August 2016

Sonam Kapoor is involved in many social causes. She has worked to raise awareness for breast cancer and is a vocal supporter of LGBT rights.

In 2012, for her birthday, she asked her fans to donate to the Ogaan Cancer Foundation. She has also worked with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to protest the use of sharp kite strings that can harm birds.

She has auctioned her own clothes online to raise money for the Smile Foundation, which helps children. She has also supported the Mijwan Welfare Society, an organization that helps empower young girls in India.

Filmography

Films

Music videos

Awards and nominations

Kapoor has been nominated for six Filmfare Awards and has won one — the Best Actress - Critics award for her role in Neerja.

See also

In Spanish: Sonam Kapoor para niños