W W W. C A R A S I N D I A . C O M
The star kid who traversed paths to become a National Award Winning actor and a certified fashionista
SONAM KAPOOR: THE STAR AND STYLE ICON
INSIDE SONAM’S LIFE
FROM ACTING TO CERTIFIED FASHIONISTA
Sonam started her path with a bang, getting a lucky break to work alongside Sanjay Leela Bhansali. That strong beginning has set the tone for very successful projects that followed
B
eing a Sanjay Leela Bhansali heroine is probably on the bucket list of every Indian actress. It also takes thorough dedication to the craft and hard work to be his muse. While it took actors like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Aditi Rao Hydari years of experience to finally be directed by the maestro, Sonam Kapoor stepped into Bollywood, through his canvas - Saawariya.
“I am someone who jumps headlong into everything” Sonam was born into the famous Kapoor Khandan in 1985. Daughter to veteran actor Anil Kapoor and former model Sunita Kapoor, Sonam did her schooling at the Arya Vidya Mandir school in Juhu. Producer Rhea Kapoor and actor Harshvardhan Kapoor are Sonam’s younger siblings with whom she shares a close bond. After finishing her schooling, Sonam left for Singapore to pursue her pre-university education.
With a grateful attitude towards life, Sonam enjoys spending time with her family. She is very close to to sister Rhea Kapoor.
I do things that I am happy with. My biggest ambition is happiness
Sonam began her career in 2005 by assisting Mr. Bhansali on the sets of his National Award-winning film, Black. Later, at the age of 22, she was offered to play the lead in his noir film, Saawariya. This was when the acting bug bit her because until then, the diva had no B-town plans.
It’s not about being number one heroine or money. It’s about doing roles that I enjoy Being Anil Kapoor’s daughter would have gotten Sonam noticed in the industry, but she had a huge hurdle to pass before beginning her acting career. Sonam was diagnosed with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOD) and this led her to weigh around 86 kgs at the tender age of 19. Not one who had an acting career in mind, the diva was not too concerned about her weight too. But for her Bollywood career to kickstart, it was imperative that she sheds ki-
The actress often says she doesn’t shoot two films at the same time. She finishes one character and gets into another character because she changes her look for every film.
“I may not be the number one movie star, but I am grateful for life”
los. Together with her mother, ar after Saawariya, the pretty acwhom she credits for her signi- tor was cast opposite Abhishek ficant weight loss, Sonam Bachchan in Rakeysh Omprakash achieved this mammoth task and Mehra’s Delhi-6, thereafter gaining her the nashed 35 kilos in me ‘Masakali’. two months. She skipped binging “I admired the stars While her first o n unhealthy of Hollywood and two films saw her in traditiofoods like sweets and savories and dreamt of becoming nal avatars, it work ed out as was ‘I Hate Loone of them” well. The diva is ve Stories’ and now vegan and ‘Aisha’ that got continues to follow a healthy lifes- her box office success and recognition as a fashionista. After tyle to keep weight gain at bay. While her debut film tanked at being a part of a few more films, the box office, Sonam was in no Sonam made a perfect mark in hurry to sign her next film. A ye- her role as Zoya in Raanjhanaa.
With an impeccable sense of fashion and style, Sonam has an eclectic taste, and loves vintage style mixed with glamour and old world charm.
The Anand L Rai directorial received widespread critical acclaim and Sonam was appreciated for her nuances. In 2017, a decade after her onscreen debut, Sonam would receive her first National Award for her spectacular portrayal of flight purser Neerja Bhanot in the biographical thriller Neerja. Ever since Sonam has become an indispensable part of several bench-marking films in Bollywood.
“Style is an expression of your individuality. Who you are is what you wear” Together with her sister Rhea, Sonam shattered many glass ceilings in celebrating fashion in India, the way it is today. While they co-own the fashion label RheSon, the sisters have managed to bring in a new light to the way fashion is seen and appreciated. Apart from looking forward to her movie releases, the starlet’s appearances at the Cannes Film
“Every single imperfection adds to your beauty. I’d rather be imperfect”
The actress says she loves eating and has to be really determined to control her foodie temptations. That is the only thing she doesn’t like
about being an actress, the constant need to check her weight. Otherwise, she loves her job. Sonam often exercises to keep her figure
Festival is something that millions of her fans look forward to. Year after year, Sonam has managed to capture International eyeballs with her experimental fashion at the prestigious film festival. Like many others in her generation, the beauty queen has time and again been the center of nepotism debate. However, she has always stood her ground and spoken about what she truly be-
“I always do things that are not the flavour of the season. And that’s why people like me” lieves in. To one to mince her words, Sonam has also gone on record to say how she often loses roles for demanding equal pay like the leading men. The Kapoor belle lives a love story that is more often seen in books. Anand Ahuja and Sonam first met when he was trying to play cupid for his friend and her. While Sonam felt that the friend
resembled her brother quite a lot, she enjoyed conversing with Anand, who at the time did not know she was the daughter of Anil Kapoor. The couple dated for two years before tying the knot in a big fat Punjabi wedding in 2018. The two never
“My mom would always read a book to me at night. I can’t go to sleep without reading a book”
Sonam loves to travel and thinks that a perfect holiday is about taking a book and going to a mountain and reading. She often goes away with her husband and family
shy away from social media PDA. It is also worth appreciating that when Sonam took her husband’s family name and turned Sonam Kapoor Ahuja , Anand on the other hand tweaked his name to Anand. S. Ahuja. The diva has also openly declared that she wants many children but at a later time.
Sonam married businessman Anand Ahuja in a traditional Sikh ceremony in 2018. The couple is often seen jetting around the globe together and always use social media do show their love for one another
The style icon enjoys baking and time and again she is seen sharing exciting recipes with her fans. Sonam is an avid reader as well and spends a lot of time reading her favourite author. In her own words, “Reading is not a hobby for me, it’s a necessity.. also reading about Indian mythology,
“A man should treat me like an equal or better. And then he should be a good human being”
The actress confirms she is naive when it comes to love, and believes in falling in love at first sight. However she says no relationship works without making an effort
culture and religions is a passion. One of my favourite interpretations of lord krishna is by one of my favourite authors.” Post her wedding, the star has been balancing time with her husband and shooting in India. Anand is an entrepreneur based in London. The two of them thus juggle a hectic schedule between the two countries. l