- Born
- Birth nameBakhtawar Murad
- Height5′ 5″ (1.65 m)
- Perhaps one of the most beautiful & underrated Bollywood actresses, Sonam was born on September 2, 1972 in Bombay. Her birth name is Bakhtawar, which means 'Fortunate One'. Since Bakhtawar is a Tibetan/Punjabi boys' name, she changed her name to Sonam, a name which stuck on, and is very popular in India. Even Bollywood actor, Anil Kapoor, has named his daughter Sonam.
Sonam rose to fame after the 1989 movie Tridev (1989), with the song "Oye Oye...Tirchi Topiwale.." on everyone's lips, tapes, videos, loudspeakers, and even whistles. This number actually carried the entire movie, and even popularized not only the rest of the cast, but all the other songs also. Sonam is remembered as the scantily/bikini young woman clad in a number of her movies.
Sonam is the niece of actor Raza Murad, and is the wife of film director Rajiv Rai, who directed her in Tridev and Vishwatma. Currently, Rajiv, Sonam and their only child are settled in the UK, where they were compelled to re-locate after a failed attempt to kill Rajiv by Bombay-based gangster, Abu Salem.
Sonam did attempt to make a come-back, in vain though, after Rajiv's opposed her move. He, however, continues to direct Bollywood films occasionally.
- IMDb mini biography by: rAjOo - Sonam (born 1972) was a Bollywood actress who shot to fame in the 1989 film Tridev. She was known for the song Tirchi Topi Wale in the film which was very popular at the time. She is the niece of character actor Raza Murad.
She was named by her parents as "Bakhtawar" which is used in Punjabi names for a lucky boy. She renamed herself Sonam to have a milder sounding name to suit the Indian film industry. Interestingly the name Sonam is of Tibetan origin and means "The fortunate one" and unfortunately for Bakhtawar is again used for a male child in Tibet.
She made several other films until 1994 when she married Bollywood film director Rajiv Rai who had directed her in Tridev (1989) and Vishwatma (1992). She had to leave India with Rajiv Rai in the late 1990s after an attempt was made on his life by the Mumbai Underworld. She is now settled with her husband in the UK and has not made any new film since although Rajiv still continues to direct Bollywood films occasionally.
- IMDb mini biography by: gavin (gunmasterM@hotmail.com)
- SpousesMurali Poduval(2017 - present)Rajiv Rai(1991 - 2016) (divorced, 1 child)
- ChildrenGaurav Rai (Rolly) (May 1, 1993)
- Neice of Raza Murad.
- Niece of Producer, Actor and Sharmila Tagore secretary N Kabir (NS Kabir) N Kabir is often mistaken with the name M Kabir (M. Kabeer). With this name he is often mistaken as Sonam's father Mushir Khan.
- Niece of Costume designer and Producer Sabiha Kabir. (Sanober's mom). Sahiba had Sonam sign a contract stating she would get 30% of her earnings. In return Sahiba would make all required decisions for Sonam's career.
- Sonam had came to Feroz Khan's office and gave a audition. Feroz liked what he saw and thought she had potential. At that point Feroz was considering her for Yalgaar. This was in 1987 That film starred Feroz Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Sri Devi, Anuradha Patel. But the production got delayed due to Feroz Khan's brother in law passing away. Plus Anil was upset that Jackie Shroff was dropped from the film. It was a Indian army based movie. In the mean time Sonam got a offer from Yash Chopra for Vijay. She asked Feroz if she could show her test to Yash Chopra. Feroz agreed due his shelving Yalgaar and now the delay with Dayavan. He did not want her to lose out in. Plus he had not signed her to a legal contract. Feroz started Yalgaar once again in 1991, but with a different script and starcast.
- Son Gaurav (Rolly) Rai appeared in the end credits of Asambhav.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
