Biography
Who is Sonu Sood?
Early life and education
Sonu Sood was born in Punjab, India. He attended the Sacred Heart School located in Moga, Punjab. Following his primary and secondary schooling, he pursued higher education in engineering. He successfully earned a B.Tech degree in Electronics engineering from the Yashwantrao Chavan College of Engineering. This academic background preceded his entry into the entertainment industry, where he eventually established himself as a versatile performer across multiple Indian language film industries.
Acting career and breakthroughs
The professional acting path for Sonu Sood began in 1999 with his participation in the Tamil films Kallazhagar and Nenjinile. He quickly transitioned into antagonist roles, appearing in the Telugu film Hands Up! In 2000. By 2002, he was starring in Hindi cinema, especially playing Bhagat Singh in the film Shaheed-E-Azam. His work in the 2004 film Yuva, directed by Mani Ratnam, brought him wider recognition as he played the brother of Abhishek Bachchan.
His reputation as a formidable antagonist grew throughout the 2000s. In 2009, he achieved significant critical success for his performance as Pasupathy in the Telugu blockbuster Arundhati. This role earned him the Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Award for Best Villain and the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in Telugu. He continued this momentum in Bollywood with the 2010 film Dabangg, where he played the lead antagonist opposite Salman Khan. This performance secured him an IIFA Award and an Apsara Award for his work in a negative role. Over the years, he appeared in numerous successful projects, including Jodhaa Akbar, Shootout at Wadala, Happy New Year, and Simmba.
Production and television work
Beyond his work as an actor, Sonu Sood expanded his career into film production and television. In July 2016, he launched a production house named Shakti Sagar Productions, which he dedicated to his father, Shakti Sagar Sood. He has also engaged with television audiences directly. In April 2022, he took on the role of host for the eighteenth season of the reality show MTV Roadies, filmed in South Africa. He later reflected on the experience as a significant learning opportunity that required him to remain authentic throughout the forty-five day production schedule.
Humanitarian efforts
Sonu Sood is widely recognized for his humanitarian activities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, he organized transport, including buses, chartered flights, and special trains, to assist stranded migrant workers in returning to their homes across India. He also coordinated a chartered flight in July 2020 to bring students back from Kyrgyzstan. For his efforts, the United Nations Development Programme awarded him the SDG Special Humanitarian Action Award in September 2020. He founded the Sood Charity Foundation to provide ongoing assistance, including free coaching programs for civil service and law entrance examinations, as well as healthcare services through his platform Ilaaj India.
Personal life
Sonu Sood married Sonali, who is from Andhra Pradesh, in 1996. The couple has two sons named Ayaan and Ishant. In his personal habits, he follows an eggetarian diet. He remains active in public service and has been involved in campaigns such as Aao Gaon Bachayein, which focuses on saving villages. He has also published an autobiographical book titled I Am No Messiah, released in December 2020, which details both his acting career and his extensive social work.
Birthday and age
Sonu Sood was born on July 30, 1976, which makes Sonu 50 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Sonu shares the date with 49 other famous people.
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