Sonia was born on February 19, 1964 in the Punjabi-speaking Walia family in Delhi. Her dad was an officer in the Indian Army.

A student of Journalism, and a Psychology graduate, she decided to take up modeling before entering the Miss India contest.

Her name was on everyone's lips when she was crowned Miss India in 1985, taking over from noted Bollywood actress, Juhi Chawla, and went on to compete in Miss World 1985. After completing her responsibilities, she relinquished her crown to Mehr Jesssia in 1986.

Cusp-born (Aquarian/Pisces) Sonia, now re-named Sonu, went to star in Bollywood movies with a lead, albeit negative, role in Khoon Bhari Maang, which got her a lot of recognition.

Unfortunately for this devastatingly beautiful, shapely, and tall young woman, she was unable to shake off the 'glamor' tag, and did not land many meaty roles from her career which spanned from 1988 to the 2005 release 'Suryakant'.

She also acted in a TV serial 'Betaal Pachisi'.

She was romantically linked with Kabir Bedi, but subsequently married U.S.-based hotelier, Pratap Singh, in a quiet ceremony in Pune during 1995 and re-located.

Sonu is remembered as one of the most beautiful, under-rated, and intriguing actresses to ever hit the Bollywood tinsel world, along with Sangita Bijlani, and both often appeared in print and ramp campaigns.