Sonam embarked on her acting journey at a tender age of 16-17, making a striking impression with her audacious performances, including numerous bold scenes in her debut film, capturing the attention of audiences far and wide.
The super hit song “Tirchi Topi Wale, Babu Bhole Bhale, Tu Yaad Aane Laga Hai” from the 1989 film “Tridev” remains an iconic Bollywood track. If you recall this song, it’s impossible to forget the actress who mesmerized audiences with her performance. The song featured Naseeruddin Shah alongside the talented actress Sonam Bakhtawar Khan. The immense popularity of this song propelled Sonam to instant stardom, earning her the endearing title of the ‘Oye-Oye Girl,’ which continues to be associated with her even today.
Sonam Bakhtawar Khan emerged as one of the leading actresses in Bollywood during that era. She kickstarted her acting journey at a young age of 16-17, instantly captivating the audience’s attention through her fearless portrayal of bold scenes in her debut film. Sonam embarked on her acting career in 1988 with the renowned Yash Chopra’s movie, ‘Vijay’.
Having delivered successful films such as ‘Vijay’, ‘Tridev’, and ‘Vishwatma’, Sonam had firmly established herself as one of the leading actresses in Bollywood. In an era when actresses typically hesitated to perform kissing scenes on screen, the 17-year-old Sonam showcased her comfort and ease in portraying bold scenes as well.
Sonam found herself at the pinnacle of her career when she astounded everyone by tying the knot at the tender age of 19. Sonam entered into matrimony with director Rajiv Rai, who happened to be 17 years her senior. Reports suggest that Sonam and Rajiv Rai were in a relationship while working together on the set of the film Tridev.
Following their marriage, Rajiv Rai began receiving threats from the underworld, with Abu Salem even making an attempt on his life. The harrowing attack left both Rajiv and Sonam terrified, prompting them to make a spontaneous decision to flee the country overnight. To evade the ongoing threat from the underworld, Sonam and Rajiv sought refuge in a series of at least four different countries, where they lived in seclusion.
According to reports, over time, the relationship between Sonam and Rajiv Rai grew strained, ultimately leading to their divorce in 2016. Subsequently, Sonam returned to India.
