Soni Razdan
Soni Mahesh Bhatt, born and known professionally as Soni Razdan, is a British actress and film director who works in Hindi-language films. She is the wife of director Mahesh Bhatt and mother of actress Alia Bhatt. Part of the Bhatt family of Indian cinema.
Soni Razdan

Bollywood Hungama · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Soni Razdan
- Born
- 25 October 1956
- Birthplace
- Small Heath, Birmingham, England
- Occupation
- * Actress
- Spouse
- Mahesh Bhatt
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Education
- Elphinstone College
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Soni Mahesh Bhatt, born and known professionally as Soni Razdan, is a British actress and film director who works in Hindi-language films. She is the wife of director Mahesh Bhatt and mother of actress Alia Bhatt. Part of the Bhatt family of Indian cinema.
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Note VALÉORINE
Soni Razdan (born 1956) is an actor, actress and film director, among other activities, of British nationality. The actor was born in Birmingham. Soni Razdan was educated at Elphinstone College. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q7561678 · wikipedia · Soni Razdan
In this article
Biography
Biography
She made her acting debut as Rosemary in 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981). Her breakthrough came with drama film Saaransh (1984), earning a nomination for the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award for Best Actress and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Razdan's other notable works includes Mandi (1983), Trikal (1985), Khamosh (1985), Such a Long Journey (1998), Raazi (2018), and Yours Truly (2018). Razdan has also starred in many OTT series including, The Verdict - State vs Nanavati (2019), Out of Love (2019), This Way Up (2019), and Call My Agent: Bollywood (2021).

Soni Razdan, Ila Arun, Kalpana Lajmi at Bhupen Hazarika tribute
Viral Bhayani · Bollywood Hungama · Bollywood Hungama Direct link

Soni Razdan and Kalpana Lajmi celebrate PETA 8th Anniversary at ITC Grand Maratha, Mumbai
Bollywood Hungama · Bollywood Hungama Direct link
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Soni Razdan • Birth Name — Soni Razdan • Born — 25 October 1956 • Birthplace — Small Heath, Birmingham, England • Occupation — * Actress • film director • Years Active — 1981–present • Spouse — Mahesh Bhatt • Children — Alia Bhatt • Family — Bhatt family
Early life
Early life
Razdan was born on 25 October 1956 in the Small Heath area of Birmingham, England to a British mother of German descent, Gertrude Hoelzer and an Indian father of Kashmiri Pandit descent, Narendra Nath Razdan. She grew up in Mumbai, India.
Career
Career
• Illustration — Razdan with Kalpana Lajmi at PETA Anniversary Razdan debuted in Hindi films in a supporting role with the 1981 film 36 Chowringhee Lane starring Jennifer Kendal. It also marked the directorial debut of Aparna Sen, who had until then been known as a leading actress of Bengali cinema. Razdan garnered mainstream attention for her appearance in the film. 36 Chowringhee Lane was also entered in the first edition of the Manila International Film Festival, where it won the top prize. Scholar Wimal Dissanayake sees the film as a portrayal of the patriarchal social system: "The film portrays the plight of a lonely woman in a society that cares little for questions of female subjectivity and self-fulfillment. In popular culture the title of the film has become symbolic of the city of Kolkata, particularly its cuisine. A Bangalore restaurant is called 36 Chowringhee Lane. A fast-food chain in Delhi is called 34 Chowringhee Lane. Then she also appeared in Ahista Ahista directed by Esmayeel Shroff. It is a remake of the Kannada film Gejje Pooje. In 1983, she appeared in film called Mandi directed by Shyam Benegal. Based on a classic Urdu short story Aanandi by writer Ghulam Abbas, the film narrates the story of a brothel, situated in the heart of a city, an area that some politicians want for its prime locality. The film is a satirical comedy on politics and prostitution. Her major breakthrough came in 1984 film Saaransh. It is about an elderly Maharashtrian couple living in Mumbai who come to terms with the loss of their only son. It was directed by her now husband Mahesh Bhatt. It was also chosen as India's official entry for the 1985 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film but it was not nominated. Her performance in the film was critically appreciated by the audience for which she earned a nomination for the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award for Best Actress and Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 1985, Razdan had two release in the year which was the Historical drama Trikal (alongside Leela Naidu, Naseeruddin Shah and Neena Gupta) and the Thriller Khamosh (alongside Shabana Azmi and again with Naseeruddin Shah), both of which were critically and commercially successful. In 1986, Razdan starred in an English-language Indian film named On Wings of Fire. From 1990-1993, Razdan appeared in 6 films. Including — Daddy, Sadak, Saathi, Sir, Gumrah, and Gunaah. Mostly she appeared as a supporting roles. In 1998, Razdan appeared as a lead in the Canadian film named Such a Long Journey, co-starring Roshan Seth and directed by Sturla Gunnarsson. The story, based on the novel of the same name written by Rohinton Mistry. The film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. In 2001, she appeared in the comedy film, Monsoon Wedding. Monsoon Wedding premiered in the Marché du Film section of the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and went on to win the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival and receive a Golden Globe Award nomination while grossing over $30 million internationally at the box office. A musical based on the film premiered on Broadway in April 2014. In 2017, IndieWire named it the 19th best romance of the 21st century. Between 2004-2013, she appeared in many films including, Dobara, Page 3, Jaan-E-Mann, Dil Dosti Etc, Patiala House, Razdan directed a film called Love Affair that was expected to be released in 2016, but did not. She acted in Meghna Gulzar's Raazi which also starred her daughter Alia in the lead role. This was the first time when she shared the screen with Alia where she played the character of Alia's mother. Soni played the lead role in the film Yours Truly where she portrayed the character of a lonely middle-aged government employee Mithi Kumar. Reviewer from The Quint writes, Sanjoy Nag uses silence as a tool to help us understand Mithi better, and Razdan embraces that silence. She is brave yet afraid, stoic yet vulnerable, lonely yet hopeful. In 2019, she appeared in Noblemen, No Fathers in Kashmir and War.
Personal life
Personal life
• Illustration — Razdan and her family attend the opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre She is married to Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. She is the mother of Shaheen Bhatt and actress Alia Bhatt, step mother of Pooja Bhatt & Rahul Bhatt. Razdan has stated that she has lived in India since she was a 3 month old and that she carries an Overseas Citizenship of India.
Television
Television
• Year — Show — Role — Platform • 1986 — Buniyaad — Sulochana (Lochan) — DD National • 1994-98 — Junoon — DD Metro • 1995-96 — Saahil — DD Metro • 2017 — Love Ka Hai Intezaar — Rajmata Rajeshwari Ranawat — Star Plus • 2019 — The Verdict - State vs Nanavati — Mehra Nanavati — ALTBalaji and ZEE5 • Out of Love — Mrs. Kapoor — Hotstar • This Way Up — Kavita, Vish's mother — Channel 4 • 2021 — Call My Agent: Bollywood — Treasa — Netflix • 2024 — Tanaav — Zubeida Mir — SonyLIV season 2 • 2026 — Bait — Naila — Prime Video • Brown — Janice Brown — ZEE5
Accolades
Accolades
• Year — Award — Category — Work — Result — Ref • 1985 — Filmfare Awards — Best Supporting Actress — Saaransh • Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards — Best Actress • 2024 — Indian Television Academy Awards — Best Supporting Actress - OTT — Pippa
Identity
Identity
Soni Razdan is recorded with the occupation television actor. Recorded with the occupation film director. Recorded as a citizen of United Kingdom.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Soni Razdan was born at Birmingham.
Birthplace
Birmingham.
Birth place
Films
• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1981 — 36 Chowringhee Lane — Rosemary Stoneham • Ahista Ahista — Deepa • 1983 — Mandi — Nadira • 1984 — Saaransh — Sujata Suman — Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress • 1985 — Trikaal — Aurora • Khamosh — Herself • 1986 — On Wings of Fire — Thais • 1998 — Such a Long Journey — Dilnavaz Noble • 1990 — Daddy — Priya • 1991 — Sadak — Special appearance • Saathi — Tina • 1993 — Sir — Shobha Verma • Gumrah — Angela • Gunaah — Gloria • 2001 — Monsoon Wedding — Saroj Rai • 2004 — Dobara — Mrs. Devika Mehta • 2005 — Page 3 — Anjali Thapar • Nazar — Director • 2006 — Jaan-E-Mann — Mrs. Goel • 2007 — Dil Dosti Etc — Apurv's Mother • 2011 — Patiala House — Dimple Bua • Love Breakups Zindagi — Guest at wedding • 2013 — Shootout at Wadala — Manya's mother • 2016 — Love Affair — Director; Unreleased • 2018 — Raazi — Teji Khan • Yours Truly — Mithi Kumar • 2019 — Noblemen — Shruti Sharma • No Fathers in Kashmir — Halima • War — Nafeesa Rahmani • 2021 — Sardar Ka Grandson — Simi — Netflix film • 2023 — Pippa — Maati • 2025 — Aabeer Gulaal — Sushma • War 2 — Nafeesa Rahmani — Cameo • Hari Ka Om — Renuka • Songs of Paradise — Noor Begum
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Soni Razdan”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q7561678: Soni Razdan
Unverified · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Soni BHATT. gov.uk.
- 2.Soni Bhatt. Companies House.
- 3.Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Soni Mahesh Bhatt. zaubacorp.com.
- 4.On Soni Razdan's Birthday: Alia Bhatt Shares Pic From the Day She Sat on Her Lap. Hindustan Times. 25 October 2023.
- 5.expressindia, daily news. I'll voice the worries of Kashmiri muslim. 30 January 2001.
- 6.Sen, Aparna. 'If I'd made more compromises I may have been more successful' – Rediff On The Net, Movies: An interview with Aparna Sen.
- 7.36 Chowringhee Lane in BTM Layout 1st stage, Bangalore – Buzzintown.
- 8.34, Chowringhee Lane.
- 9.Ahista Ahista is a celluloid edifice built on prefabricated blocks of tear-jerker tragedy. India Today. 15 December 1981.
- 10.Eight Sandalwood films that have been remade in other languages. The News Minute. 26 May 2016.
- 11.IMDb. Mandi.
- 12.Anupam Kher talks about how Mahesh Bhatt's Saaransh changed his life. The Times of India. 18 February 2014.
- 13.Verma, Sukanya. Khamosh: Revisiting Vidhu Vinod Chopra's brilliant whodunit. Rediff.com. 6 June 2013.
- 14.Dawar, Rati. On Wings of Fire: Cyrus H. Bharucha's film on Zoroastrianism generates heat among orthodoxy. indiatoday.in. 31 July 1986.
- 15.Goyal, Divya. Pooja Bhatt On The Irony Of Having Saved' An Alcoholic Father In Daddy Only To Battle Drinking Problem Herself. NDTV. 17 April 2018.
- 16.Mallepuvvu: Movie Review. Telugucinema.com. 18 Sep 2008.
- 17.Scott, A. O. 'Such a Long Journey': A Life as Topsy-Turvy as the Streets of Bombay. NY Times. The New York Times Company. 26 March 2000.
- 18.Walz, Eugene P. Canada's Best Features: Critical Essays on 15 Canadian Films. Rodopi. 383. 1 January 2002. 9789042012097.
- 19.Such a Long Journey. Faber & Faber. June 2019.
- 20.Such A Long Journey. Chocolate Moose Media.
- 21.Screen International. Sony Classics, USA turn up Cannes buying heat.
- 22.rediff.com US edition: Monsoon Wedding heads for the US. Rediff.com.
- 23.Garima Sharma. Monsoon Wedding to make Broadway debut in April 2014. The Times of India. 12 December 2012.
- 24.Thompson, Michael Nordine, Anne. Best Romance Movies of the 21st Century, Ranked IndieWire. www.indiewire.com.
- 25.What was Shashi Ranjan thinking?. Rediff.com. 24 September 2004.
- 26.Madhur Bhandarkar proves himself again!.
- 27.Patiala Hoes: Complete Cast & Crew Details. Bollywood Hungama.
- 28.Soni Razdan's directorial venture to go on floors in 2016. The Indian Express. 5 November 2015.
- 29.Soni Razdan's Love Affair put on hold, to do a TV series first?. 6 March 2017.
- 30.Raazi movie: Soni Razdan explains why she wanted to hug daughter Alia during the shoot.
- 31.In Yours Truly, Soni Razdan Shines In An Elegant Ode To Middle-Aged Longing. Film Companion. 6 May 2019.
- 32.'Yours Truly' is a Silent Lonely Voice, Screaming to Be Heard. The Quint. 2019-05-06.
- 33.Kunal Kapoor will teach Shakespeare's plays in Vandana Kataria's The Noblemen. Hindustan Times. 18 March 2017.
- 34.Censor Woes for No Fathers In Kashmir Are Over, Ashvin Kumar's Film Released on April 5. News18. 14 March 2019.
- 35.Rediff On The Net, Movies: An interview with Soni Razdan.
- 36.Rediff On The Net, Movies: An interview with Soni Razdan.
- 37.Razdan, Soni. I do actually. My father is Indian. Lived in India since I was 3 months old. Pay taxes. Hold an Overseas Citizen of India card. If my hard earned income is good enough to be used to better this nation then I have a right to voice my opinions too. #VoteOutHate. 1117956313953099776. 16 April 2019.
- 38.Hari Ka Om to make European debut at UK Asian Film . The Times of India. 8 May 2025.
- 39.Saba Azad to play Raj Begum in Danish Renzu's Songs of Paradise - Exclusive. The Times of India. 25 September 2022.
- 40.All Filmfare Awards Winners.
- 41.BENGAL FILM JOURNALISTS' ASSOCIATION. 2015-09-23.
- 42.ITA Awards 2024: Complete list of winners. Indian Television Academy Awards.
References
Citations
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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