
Soha Ali Khan
Soha Ali Khan is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Soha Ali Khan began their career in 1998 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 28 years. With 30 credits to their name, Soha Ali Khan remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Spanning 20+ years, Soha Ali Khan's career remains one of the longest and most celebrated in Tamil cinema.
- Born
- Age
- 47
Biography
Soha Ali Khan is a Hindi cinema actress and author, daughter of veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and former India cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, and younger sister of actor Saif Ali Khan. She won the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress and received a Filmfare nomination for her role in Rang De Basanti (2006), directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, and later appeared in Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns (2013) as Ranjana and in Go Goa Gone (2013) opposite her now-husband Kunal Khemu. Unlike many contemporaries, she pursued higher education at Oxford (modern history) and the London School of Economics (International Relations) before entering films, bringing an analytical sensibility to her public persona. She authored the memoir The Perils of Being Moderately Famous (2017), which won the Crossword Book Award in 2018, reflecting her continued engagement beyond acting.
Career Milestones
Film debut in Hindi cinema with Dil Maange More
Breakthrough role as Durgawati Devi in ensemble patriotic drama
View film →Won IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress
View film →Won GIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress
View film →Published memoir 'The Perils of Being Moderately Famous', won Crossword Book Award
Iconic Roles
Rang De Basanti
Her breakthrough dual role as a modern college student and a freedom fighter's wife, which earned her the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Filmfare nomination.
Khoya Khoya Chand
A vulnerable yet ambitious starlet and daughter of a famous actress who dreams of joining the film industry while navigating romantic turmoil.
Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns
A modern, ambitious MLA's daughter in love with Indrajeet Singh who becomes entangled in the film's political and romantic power struggles.
Defining Moments
Dual role as college student and freedom fighter Durgawati Devi — particularly the emotional sequences where her character bridges the present-day narrative with the historical rebellion, culminating in the film's powerful climax
Won her the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress; widely regarded as her breakout performance that established her as a serious actress. The film itself became a cultural landmark in Indian cinema.
View film →As Nikhat, a 1960s Bollywood actress entangled in the film industry's dark side — her portrayal of ambition and vulnerability in the golden-era setting
A critically praised performance set against a richly recreated vintage Bollywood backdrop; frequently cited as one of her most layered and committed roles.
View film →As Pooja, navigating the cricket match-fixing thriller's emotional core — her scenes grounding the high-stakes drama with personal stakes
Noted for holding her own in an ensemble crime-thriller, adding emotional credibility to the film's convoluted narrative.
View film →As Ranjana, Irrfan Khan's sophisticated love interest navigating loyalty and deception amidst the feudal power struggle — her scenes with Irrfan were praised for chemistry and nuance
Critics called it her best performance, noting her sophistication and the compelling counterpoint her character provided to Mahi Gill's Biwi. Considered her strongest dramatic work in a negative/grey-shaded role.
View film →Comic turn as Hardik's ex-girlfriend who unexpectedly arrives on the zombie-infested Goa trip, playing the comedic tension of a post-breakup reunion against a horror backdrop
Demonstrated her range and willingness to take on self-aware, comedic parts; the film was India's first zombie comedy and became a cult hit.
View film →Soha Ali Khan by the Numbers
If you watched every Soha Ali Khan film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 1 day and 22h. Most-paired with Kunal Khemu — 4 films together.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →









Collaboration Network
The Constellation
Top 10 most-paired collaborators. Bubble size and line thickness reflect how many films they share with Soha Ali Khan.
Career Analytics
Genre Breakdown
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →Soha Ali Khan has worked most frequently with Sudhir Mishra (2 films), Raj Nidimoru (2 films), Krishna D. K. (2 films), Kunal Khemu (4 films), and Irrfan Khan (3 films).






Did You Know?
Soha Ali Khan is the daughter of veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and former Indian cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
She holds a Master's degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
She made her film debut in the Bengali film 'Iti Srikanta' (2004).
She is married to actor Kunal Kemmu, and they have a daughter named Inaaya Naumi Kemmu.
She is the younger sister of actor Saif Ali Khan and the granddaughter of actress Begum Para.
Photos
See all →



Family

Mother
Sharmila Tagore

Sibling
Saif Ali Khan
News & Stories

Soha Ali Khan at Karan Johar party Photos.
10/2/2018
Legacy & Influence
Soha Ali Khan's contribution to Indian cinema is defined by her intelligent choice of roles and her ability to bring a distinct, understated authenticity to her performances. As a member of the prominent Pataudi family, she entered the industry with notable public interest but carved her own path distinct from her family's legacy. Her career trajectory showcases a preference for content-driven cinema over mainstream commercial projects. A pivotal role was in the critically acclaimed 'Rang De Basanti' (2006), where she was part of a landmark ensemble cast that captured a generation's zeitgeist, though her specific character name is not widely cited in major summaries. She further demonstrated her range in films like 'Khoya Khoya Chand' (2007), a period drama exploring the golden age of Hindi cinema, and the crime thriller 'Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns' (2013), where she held her own in a powerful cast. Her filmography also includes notable work in offbeat projects such as '99' (2009) and the Bengali film 'Antarmahal' (2005). While not a prolific box-office star, Khan earned respect for her nuanced portrayals, often of modern, educated women. Her work in English-language films like 'The Last Lear' (2007) and her foray into digital content with series like 'Rangbaaz' expanded her reach. Overall, Soha Ali Khan's legacy lies in her consistent selection of substantive roles across Hindi, Bengali, and English films, representing a strand of Indian cinema that values script and character depth, thereby appealing to a discerning audience segment.