Sonam Kapoor (born 9 June 1985) is an Indian film actress and fashion icon who appears in Bollywood films. Born to Indian film actor, Anil Kapoor, Kapoor chose acting as her career and followed the footsteps of her father.


Kapoor made her acting debut in 2007 with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya opposite Ranbir Kapoor and subsequently featured in the offbeat drama Delhi-6 (2009). She earned her first commercial success with the romantic comedy I Hate Luv Storys (2010) and followed with such films as Aisha (2010) and Thank You (2011). She is known as a fashionista, she has been getting various accolades for her unique sense of style rather than her films.

In addition to her films, Kapoor has often been the cover girl for a variety of magazines. She is also the brand ambassador for cosmetics and beauty company L'Oréal.

Kapoor is currently filming for Anand L. Rai's Raanjhnaa with Dhanush, which features her as the female lead and for a special appearance in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Bhaag Milkha Bhaag alongside Farhan Akhtar.

Early life

Kapoor was born and raised in Chembur, Mumbai. She is the eldest daughter of Anil Kapoor and Sunita, who is Sindhi and the granddaughter of filmmaker Surinder Kapoor. She is the niece of producer Boney Kapoor, actress Sridevi, actor Sanjay Kapoor and producer Sandeep Marwah. Kapoor is the eldest of three children; the others are sister Rhea Kapoor and brother Harshvardhan. She is also the cousin of upcoming actor Arjun Kapoor & Anushala Kapoor.

She went at the Arya Vidya Mandir school in Juhu and then enrolled in the United World College of South East Asia to do her International Baccalaureate. She also studied Political Science and Economics from University of East London. She speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi and Marathi and is a well trained classical dancer.

Career

Early work (2004–05)

Before starting her career off as an actress, Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor worked as assistant directors under Sanjay Leela Bhansali in 2004, and assisted him during the making of his film, Black which was released in early 2005.
Film debut & breakthrough (2007–09)
Kapoor at UTV Stars Superstar Santa photo-shoot

She made her acting debut alongside newcomer, Ranbir Kapoor in Bhansali's Saawariya (2007), which failed to do well at the box office, but her performance opened to mixed to good reviews by critics. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama commented saying, "Sonam Kapoor is an average actor. However, her role doesn't give her the opportunity to display histrionics. She looks gorgeous at places, but plain ordinary at times." GlamSham.com wrote, "As for Sonam, she matches Ranbir, step for step. A gorgeous looker, she carries off her role with aplomb as the one who is looking for her love to return. Her huge eyes portray her emotions and her confidence is personified in every frame; whether she is playfully fooling around with Ranbir or anxiously looking out for her Imaan (Salman Khan) to return. It looks like these two were born to act. The chemistry between the two is awesome." Naresh K. D. of apunkachoice.com said, "Sonam, though undoubtedly gorgeous, seems ill at ease with her part. In one close-up shot just after her introduction, her face - supposed to express sadness - is completely bereft of emotion. In the second half, however, she manages to sink her teeth better into her character." Kapoor had no release in 2008, although, was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut, though lost out to actress Deepika Padukone for Om Shanti Om, which, coincidentally was released alongside Saawariya.
Kapoor at the press meet of 'Players' at JW Marriott

In 2009, Kapoor appeared in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Delhi-6, opposite Abhishek Bachchan. The film flopped at the box office and received mixed critical reviews, but her performance was praised. Critic Rajeev Masand commented, "Sonam Kapoor is the revelation in Delhi 6. She's a firecracker performer, instinctive and uninhibited in what isn't even a conventional female lead". Sonia Chopra, film criric from Rediff commented, "Sonam Kapoor is an earnest and effortless performer so she does make you like the character somewhat, despite the typical Delhi-girl recipe".
Initial success (2010–present)

In 2010, she appeared in Punit Malhotra's I Hate Luv Storys opposite Imran Khan. The film went on to become her first box office success, collecting over INR40 crore (US$7.24 million) at the domestic box office. Kapoor also garnered positive reviews for her performance as film critic Taran Adarsh from Bollywood Hungama commented saying, "Sonam is a revelation. From salwars [SAAWARIYA, DELHI 6] to skirts in I HATE LUV STORYS, Sonam finally gets a role that does justice to her as an actress. The ease and class with which she carries off the glam look is fantastic. She's like a whiff of fresh air and you actually wonder, is she the same girl from SAAWARIYA and DELHI 6? In fact, I HATE LUV STORYS will only multiply Imran and Sonam's fan base manifold." She also appeared in the romantic comedy, Aisha, opposite Abhay Deol, which was only an average performer at the box office.
Kapoor on the sets of 'Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan'

Kapoor's first release in 2011, Thank You was a critical failure, although the film was a moderate success at the box office, as its collections surpassed the INR45 crore (US$8.15 million) mark.Despite the positive box office response, Kapoor's performance garnered mainly negative reviews from top critics, as entertainment site One India wrote, "Sonam Kapoor looks terribly out of sync in the film. Her make up in Thank You is just not right at all, she sometimes looks glamorous and sometime pale on-screen." The same year, she made an appearance at the 64th Cannes Film Festival representing L'Oréal, the brand she endorses in India.

Her second film of the year was the romance film Mausam, in which she and co-star Shahid Kapoor had four different looks representing each of the four seasons. The film received mixed reviews and was a failure at the box office. However, Sonam's performance was appreciated by most prominent critics. Taran Adarsh commented, "For Sonam, MAUSAM will prove to be a turning point in her career. Astonishing -- that would be the right word to describe her work this time around. The confidence with which she handles the distinct characterization speaks volumes". Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV commented, "Sonam Kapoor may still have some way to go as an actress, but she conveys the essential vulnerability of a girl forever under duress, bringing out just the right mix of feminine fragility and native resolve."

Her first release of 2012 is Players, a remake of The Italian Job, alongside Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu and Neil Nitin Mukesh. The film received mixed to negative reviews and didn't do well at the box office. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama stated that, "It's an image transformation for Sonam in PLAYERS. She has never done a full-on glamorous role before and PLAYERS should change the perception. However, the rawness, as an actor, shows in a variety of scenes." However, Martin D'Souza, of glamsham.com said, "But it is Sonam Kapoor who disappoints. I get the feeling that the poor girl is trying too hard to play this 'oomphy' character. She is either overawed by Bipasha or is rattled by the recent spate of her flops." Later that year, Kapoor made her second appearance at the Cannes Film Festival.

She is currently shooting for a guest role in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag with Farhan Akhtar and a lead female role in Raanjhnaa with Dhanush. Kapoor has also been reported to have signed on the female lead role opposite her I Hate Luv Storys co-star, Imran Khan in Tigmanshu Dhulia's Milan Talkies.

Other work
Kapoor endorses Anant Diamond Jewellery by GJEPC

Philanthrophy

In 2009, Kapoor participated in the International Indian Film Academy Awards, also known as "IIFA" charity fashion show. In 2012, Kapoor asked for fans to donate to the Ogaan Cancer Foundation for her birthday. They also collaborated to create an awareness for breast cancer.
Kapoor at the 64th Cannes Film Festival in 2011.

In the media

In November 2010, Kapoor appeared on Koffee With Karan, along with actress Deepika Padukone made harsh comments on fellow actor Ranbir Kapoor, she also made comments on fellow actress Kangna Ranaut's accent, which led to wide controversies. During an interview in June 2012, Kapoor made negative remarks on fellow actress Katrina Kaif, as she stated, "Because I don’t know how she does it. You need a certain kind of commitment and a certain kind of shamelessness to do certain things and you get that may be with stardom, with confidence in your talent, with who you are as a person, and I need to develop that before I do that kind of films — over the top films. I need to learn how to do it as I was terrible in those movies." Although, Kapoor later stated that the media misinterpreted her on the comments she made, as she was only trying to compliment Kaif.

Personal life

During the filming of Kapoor's debut film, Saawariya it was widely speculated that she was in a romantic relationship with co-star, Ranbir Kapoor. However, it was denied by both the actors, although the reports continued to arouse. Later, it was reported that she is presently in a releationship with her I Hate Luv Storys director, Punit Malhotra, although, despite the fact that this was also denied by both, it was continued to be reported.

Sonam Kapoor's Wallpaper