Sonam (actress)

Sonam was named by her parents (Mushir Khan - father and Talat Khan- Mother) as "Bakhtavar". "Sonam" is her screen-name, which is reportedly coined by Yash Chopra to be more marketable in the Indian film industry.

She first entered into the Bollywood industry after being launched by Yash Chopra in the 1988 film Vijay. She was just 19 years of age at the time. She shot to fame with the 1989 film Tridev where the popular song Oye Oye...Tirchi Topi Wale was picturised on her and established her as a sex symbol. She was frequently paired with actors like Chunky Pandey, Govinda and Naseeruddin Shah. Some of her notable films include Mitti Aur Sona, Aakhri Ghulam, Lashkar, Kroadh, Ajooba and Vishwatma. She also appeared in regional films. She married director Rajiv Rai in 1991 and declared that she was quitting films. She appeared in over 30 films from 1988 through to 1994.

After marrying Rajiv Rai, who had directed her in Tridev and Vishwatma in 1991,Sonam left the industry. Her son was born to her in May 1993, named Gaurav Rai. Her father-in-law was the successful film producer Gulshan Rai. She had to leave India with Rajiv Rai in 1997, after an attempt was made on his life by gunmen working for the Mumbai organized crime leader Abu Salem.[2]

The couple settled in Los Angeles and then in Switzerland before shifting base to Mumbai again a few years ago. However, they have been living separately since 2001. Sonam and Rajiv divorced after 15 years of separation.[3]

In 2017, Sonam married for a second time to businessman and divorcee Murali Poduval.[4]

• Sonam at IMDb
• Sonam at Bollywood Hungama