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Sonam Khan (born Bakhhtawar Khan), is an Indian actress and former model recognized for her contributions to both Bollywood and Telugu cinema. She is the niece of actor Raza Murad and the granddaughter of renowned actor Murad. Throughout her career, she has shared the screen with prominent actors such as Govinda, Chunky Pandey, Rishi Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Chiranjeevi, Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Dutt, Raj Babbar, Aditya Pancholi, and Naseeruddin Shah. Her notable film credits include “Vijay”, “Tridev”, “Mitti Aur Sona”, “Lashkar”, and “Krodh”.
In 1991, Sonam married director Rajiv Rai, known for directing her in two popular films “Tridev” and “Vishwatma”. Rajiv was the son of Gulshan Rai, a successful film producer and founder of Trimurti Films banner. Despite Sonam being Muslim and Rajiv’s family being Hindu from Punjab, they were able to build a happy marriage. Following their union, Sonam stepped away from her acting career to focus on her family. In due time, the couple welcomed a son named Gaurav Rai. However, they eventually divorced.
Here are some lesser known facts about Sonam aka Bakhhtawar Khan
Sonam was a well-known actress in the late 1980s and early 1990s known for her alluring and sensual performances in movies. She primarily worked in Hindi and Telugu films, amassing over 35 films between 1987 and 1994.
In 1988, Yash Chopra introduced Sonam to the Bollywood film industry through his star-studded movie “Vijay”. The film featured renowned actors such as Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini, Rishi Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Meenakshi Sheshadri, and Anupam Kher alongside Sonam.
During an interview, Sonam disclosed that while filming for “Vijay”, she had a near-drowning experience. Aditya Chopra, son of Yash Chopra, came to her rescue at the time. However, Yash Chopra had requested her to learn how to swim for the film. Unfortunately, due to her fear of water (hydrophobia), Sonam was unable to learn how to swim.
Sonam gained widespread recognition as the “Oye Oye girl” for her hit song “Thirchi Topiwale” in the film Tridev, which was immensely popular during its time.
She has acted alongside many well-known actors such as Govinda, Mithun Chakraborthy, Chiranjeevi, Rishi Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Dutt, Naseeruddin Shah, and Chunky Pandey.
Sonam, a stunning and renowned actress of the 1990s, was featured in popular films such as Vijay, Tridev, Vishwatma, Mitti Aur Sona, Lashkar, Krodh, Kodama Simham and Ajooba.
In 1989, she appeared in nine films, including Tridev, which solidified her reputation as a bold actress.
In 1990, she made appearances in ten films, including the successful Krodh and the Telugu blockbuster Kodava Simham alongside Chiranjeevi.
In 1992, Sonam Khan starred in the high-budget film Vishwatma.
Sonam recently revealed that she had a very close friendship with the late actress Divya Bharti. The two had worked together in the film Vishwatma and were also of similar age, leading to many fond memories shared on the film’s set.
During her successful career as a leading actress in Bollywood, Sonam may have portrayed bold and controversial characters on screen. However, in her personal life, she was an open book and had no secrets to hide.
One of the only hidden truths about her was that she was only 13 years old when she auditioned for Yash Chopra’s film “Vijay,” which marked her debut. Her aunt had informed Yash Chopra that Sonam was actually 16 at the time. However, it wasn’t until she submitted her passport for the Switzerland filming schedule that her real age, just turned 14, was revealed.
Personal Life of Sonam Khan
In 1991, she married director Rajiv Rai, who had previously directed her in two films: Tridev and Vishwatma. Following her marriage, she appeared in a limited number of films before deciding to prioritize caring for her family. At the age of 21, she became a mother to her son Gaurav, who was later diagnosed with autism.
In 1997, Sonam and her husband Rai were forced to leave India due to threats from the underworld mafia led by Abu Salem. This was after an unsuccessful attempt on Rai’s life. They relocated to Switzerland where they have been living for almost two decades. However, due to ongoing troubles with the underworld and career challenges, their marriage eventually fell apart. After being separated for 15 years, Sonam and Rajiv Rai officially divorced in 2016.
Sonam and Murali Pudaval met in Puducherry and soon developed a romantic relationship. They made the decision to get married and had a small nikaah ceremony on April 14, 2017 in Ooty. Murali, like Sonam, is also a divorcee and works as a businessman.
