Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, born June 9, 1985, is an Indian former actress who worked in Hindi films. Known for portraying the lives of ordinary Indian women, she has also been cited in the media as a fashion icon. Over her career, she received several accolades, including a National Film Award and a Filmfare Award, and was featured on Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list from 2012 to 2016.

Kapoor was born in Chembur, Bombay (present-day Mumbai) to actor and producer Anil Kapoor and former model and designer Sunita Kapoor. She was raised in the suburb of Juhu alongside her two younger siblings, film producer Rhea and brother Harsh Varrdhan. Coming from a prominent film background, her extended family includes filmmakers, actors, and producers. Kapoor attended Arya Vidya Mandir school, played sports such as rugby and basketball, and trained in Kathak, classical music, and Latin dance. She pursued pre-university education in theatre and arts at the United World College of South East Asia in Singapore, and later enrolled in economics and political science courses.

Initially aspiring to work as a director and writer, Kapoor began her career in 2005 as an assistant director to filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali on his film Black. Encouraged by Bhansali to pursue acting, she underwent two years of preparation and weight loss, studying acting under Roshan Taneja, Jayati Bhatia, and Feroz Abbas Khan. She made her acting debut in Bhansali's 2007 romantic drama Saawariya. Although the film failed commercially, her role earned her a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Female Debut.

After appearing in the social drama Delhi-6 in 2009, Kapoor achieved her first commercial success with the 2010 romantic comedy I Hate Luv Storys. She followed this with the ensemble romantic comedy-drama Aisha (2010), based on Jane Austen's novel Emma and produced by her sister. Subsequent releases, including Thank You (2011), Mausam (2011), and Players (2012), met with commercial and critical difficulties.

Kapoor's career reached a turning point with the 2013 romantic drama Raanjhanaa. Her portrayal of Zoya Haider earned widespread critical praise and her first Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress. That same year, she made a brief appearance in the biographical sports film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a major box-office hit. She later earned further Filmfare Best Actress nominations for her roles in the romantic comedy Khoobsurat (2014) and the comedy Dolly Ki Doli (2015). In 2015, she starred in the romance Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, which became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films.

In 2016, Kapoor played the title role of air hostess Neerja Bhanot in the biographical thriller Neerja. The performance earned her high critical acclaim, winning her the National Film Award – Special Mention and the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics). She later appeared in supporting and leading roles in successful releases such as the biopic Sanju (2018) and the female buddy film Veere Di Wedding (2018).

Beyond her film career, Kapoor supports initiatives raising awareness for breast cancer, LGBT rights, and diabetes. She is married to businessman Anand Ahuja, with whom she has two sons.