Here, we take you through the career highlights of the talented actor...
Sonam started out as an assistant director on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black (2005). During the shoot, Bhansali professed he wanted to cast her in his next film, Saawariya
Inspired by Fyodor Dostoevsky’s short story White Nights, Saawariya was released in 2007. The film paired Sonam with Ranbir Kapoor, also making his debut
For her maiden appearance, Sonam was declared the Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Female
In 2009, she starred in Rakeyesh Omprakash Mehra’s Delhi 6, playing Bittu Sharma, an aspiring singer from old Delhi
A slew of releases followed: I Hate Luv Storys, Aisha, Thank You, Mausam, Players
Aisha (2011) introduced a popular Sonam trope: the quest for a perfect match
A career breakthrough came as Zoya Haider in Raanjhanaa (2013). The triangular romance set between Varanasi and Delhi was a major hit, with Dhanush and Abhay Deol essaying the male leads
The film earned her her first Filmfare Nomination for Best Actress
Sonam reunited with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra on Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013). She played Biro, the fleeting love interest of Milkha Singh
Meanwhile, the slice-of-life roles continued with Bewakoofiyaan and Khoobsurat. For the latter, Sonam won the Stardust Award for Best Actress in a Comedy or Romance
12aIn Dolly Ki Doli (2015), she played a serial bride who marries rich men and dupes them for jewellery and cash.
Sonam was diagnosed with swine influenza while filming for Prem Ratan Dhan Payo in Gujarat. She recovered in a month
With Salman Khan in a double role, PRDP was second-highest grossing Hindi film of 2015
Sonam headlined Ram Madhvani’s Neerja in 2016. She played Neeraj Bhanot, an Indian purser who died saving 380 passengers on Pan Am Flight 73, which was hijacked by terrorists
Neerja is hailed as Sonam’s best performance till date. She won a National Film Award Special Mention for the role, as well as a Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics)
To prepare for the part, Sonam met Neerja’s family and trained as an airhostess for two months
In 2018, she teamed up with Akshay Kumar and Radhika Apte for PadMan. She played Pari Walia, a social worker who becomes instrumental in the hero’s journey
The female buddy comedy, Veere Di Wedding, was released the same year. It also featured Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sikha Talsania and Swara Bhasker
Sonam played one of Sanjay Dutt’s love interests in Sanju (2018). The film reunited her with Ranbir Kapoor, her co-star from Saawariya
She essayed a closeted lesbian girl from a conservative Punjabi family in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (2019). The film co-starred her real-life father Anil Kapoor
The Zoya Factor (2019) told the story of a junior copywriter who becomes a lucky charm for the Indian cricket team. The romantic-comedy paired Sonam with Dulquer Salmaan
Sonam will star in the Bollywood remake of the South Korean film Blind. The actor will play a visually-impaired character in the mystery involving a hit-and-run case
