"Never, never marry young..."
Filmfare|January 2024
SAYS THE OYE OYE GIRL SONAM KHAN, WHO WANTS TO COME BACK TO SHOWBIZ AFTER THREE DECADES. SHE TELLS FARHANA FAROOK THAT THIS TIME SHE'S WILLING TO GIVE IT HER ALL
FARHANA FAROOK
"Never, never marry young..."

Tridev (1989) witnessed an unlikely alliance: the paragon of parallel cinema, Naseeruddin Shah, jived with teen sensation Sonam on the now-cult song Oye oye tirchi topiwale song. Inspired by Gloria Estefan's Rhythm is gonna get you, the number made the unsuspecting Sonam a star overnight. Decades later, the ditty continues to serenade generations, 'celebration' being its genre. Sonam, who had a spectacular rise, doing around three dozen films, including Mitti Aur Sona, Lashkar, Kroadh, Ajooba, and Vishwatma, quit it all to wed filmmaker Rajiv Rai in 1991. A few years later, she came to know that her son, Gaurav Rai was autistic. Since then, she's lived on several continents, trying to equip him with life skills and more. In the bargain, she acquired a survival kit for herself too, in which empathy and self-realisation dominate. Her marriage behind her, Sonam, at 51, is looking forward to a revival. She's keen to rekindle her romance with the camera and herself...

Did you always want to be an actor?

I wanted to be a teacher or an air hostess. I began working in film to support my family. I was the only child of my parents, Talat and Mushir Khan. I find it difficult to talk about them in the past tense. My mother passed away in 1999 and my dad in 2001. I lost them in a span of two years.

It’s said the late Yash Chopra gave you the name Sonam in your debut film, Vijay (1988).

True. Yashji believed my actual name, Bakhtavar Khan, was too heavy for an actress. Coincidentally, both names have the same meaning. Bakhtavar means the fortunate one. While Sonam, supposedly a Tibetan name, also means ‘fortunate’.

This story is from the January 2024 edition of Filmfare.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2024 edition of Filmfare.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FILMFAREView All
Hello Miss Sunshine!
Filmfare

Hello Miss Sunshine!

Shraddha Kapoor Is All Things Nice With A Dash Of Spice. The Actress Chats Nineteen To The Dozen With Anuradha Choudhary

time-read
10 mins  |
November 2024
SHAPER Οf CONSCIENCE
Filmfare

SHAPER Οf CONSCIENCE

The ever reticent filmmaker Rajkumar Gupta opens up to Rachit Gupta about his decision to make a series on Big Pharma and more

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
It's a wonderful life!
Filmfare

It's a wonderful life!

Neelam Kothari Soni confides in Farhana Farook that she's currently enjoying her best phase both personally and professionally

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
Stop the SHAME!
Filmfare

Stop the SHAME!

Bollywood celebrities often face intense scrutiny for their appearance, with recent trolling of Alia Bhatt highlighting this issue. Many speculated about her looks, suggesting she had undergone Botox.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
ELVISH HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!
Filmfare

ELVISH HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!

ROBERT ARAMAYO, WHO PLAYS THE HALF-HUMAN, HALF-ELF ELROND IN THE THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER SERIES TALKS TO TANZIM PARDIWALLA ABOUT BEING PART OF TOLKIEN'S WORLD

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
The Darjeeling Unlimited
Filmfare

The Darjeeling Unlimited

SUDHANSHU SARIA talks about directing Ulajh and reflects on his journey so far in a conversation with VEDANSHI PATHAK

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Melodies & Memories
Filmfare

Melodies & Memories

Some memories make songs. Some songs make memortes. Music director Anandji, of the Kalyanji-Anandjt duo, handpicks such compositions in conversation with Farhana Farook

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
Soundcheck
Filmfare

Soundcheck

HOTSHOT COMPOSERS SACHIN-JIGAR TELL SRIJANI ROY CHOWDHURY THAT COMPOSING IS ALL ABOUT SWAG

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
THE CHAMELEON
Filmfare

THE CHAMELEON

RAGHAV JUYAL ISN'T JUST A TOP DANCER, HE'S TURNING INTO A CONSUMMATE ACTOR AS WELL. HE CHARTS HIS JOURNEY WITH SRIJANI ROY CHOWDHURY

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
THE GRADUATE
Filmfare

THE GRADUATE

AFTER WORKING WITH HIS GURU VISHAL BHARDWAJ FOR YEARS, DIRECTOR ADITYA NIMBALKAR OF SECTOR 36 FAME HAS PASSED WITH FLYING COLOURS. SUMAN SHARMA CAPTURES HIS EUPHORIA

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024