Sonya Jehan facts for kids

Sonya Jehan (born April 24, 1980) is a talented actress from Pakistan. She mostly acts in Urdu and Hindi movies. Sonya is famous for playing important supporting roles in many popular films.

She is the granddaughter of the very famous singer Noor Jehan and filmmaker Shaukat Hussain Rizvi. Some of her well-known movies include My Name Is Khan (2010), The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012), and Ho Mann Jahaan (2015). For her role in Ho Mann Jahaan, she was even nominated for an award!

Besides acting, Sonya has also been a judge on a cooking show. She also owns a French restaurant in Karachi called Cafe Flo.

Early Life and Family

Sonya Jehan was born in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, on April 24, 1980. Her father, Akbar Hussain Rizvi, is a businessman from Karachi. Her mother, Florence Rizvi, is from France.

Sonya's birth name is Sonya Rizvi. She later changed her last name to Jehan to honor her grandmother, the legendary singer Noor Jehan. She has a brother named Sikander Rizvi, who is also an actor and owns restaurants. Sonya is also related to other famous people. Her aunt is singer Zille Huma, and actor Ahmed Ali Butt is her first cousin.

Education and Studies

Sonya went to school in Karachi. She studied at the Centre of Advanced Studies and The Lyceum School. After that, she moved to London for her higher education. She earned a degree in design from the Central St Martins College of Art and Design. She returned to Pakistan the same year she finished her studies.

Acting Career

Sonya Jehan started her acting journey in 2005. Her first movie was the romantic historical film Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story. In this film, she played the role of Mumtaz Mahal. Even though the movie got mixed reviews, many film critics praised Sonya's acting.

Notable Films

In 2007, Sonya appeared in Khoya Khoya Chand. This movie was about the lives of celebrities in the 1950s film industry. Critics gave the film good reviews, and Sonya's performance was again highly praised.

Her next big role was in the 2010 social drama My Name Is Khan. She played a religious American Muslim professor alongside famous actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. The movie was set in America and received positive feedback. Sonya's acting in this film was especially appreciated. My Name Is Khan was a very successful movie, becoming one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2010.

Sonya Jehan also acted in her first Hollywood movie in 2013. It was a political thriller called The Reluctant Fundamentalist. This film was based on a popular novel. Sonya played Professor Nadia and worked with actors like Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson. Her performance was once again praised by critics. The movie did moderately well at the box office.

Success in Ho Mann Jahaan

In 2016, Sonya starred in the musical drama Ho Mann Jahaan. She played a strong and independent woman named Sabina. The film was directed by Asim Raza. When it was released, both the movie and Sonya's acting received a lot of praise. Ho Mann Jahaan was a big success and became one of the highest-grossing Pakistani films ever. Sonya was nominated for a Nigar Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in this film.

Personal Life

Sonya Rizvi is married to Vivek Narain, who is an Indian banker. They got married in 2005 and live in Delhi, India. They have two children, a daughter named Noor and a son named Nirvan.

Sonya and her husband Vivek own a special club called The Quorum. It has locations in Gurgaon and Mumbai. Sonya also manages the food and drinks for the restaurant next door, called Coalesce. Her family also owns a French-themed restaurant in Karachi called Cafe Flo.

Filmography