Somy Ali

Somy Ali was born in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Her mother Tehmina is Iraqi, and her father Madan is Pakistani. After studying at the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Karachi till age 12, she, her mother and brother moved to South Florida, United States. Inspired by a teenage crush on Bollywood actor Salman Khan, Ali convinced her mother to allow her to move to Bombay, India at 16. In Bombay, Ali was involved in modeling projects and also performed in Hindi movies. She appeared in ten Hindi movies between 1991 and 1998, as a leading lady with top Bollywood actors.[5] While in Mumbai, she was in a relationship with Bollywood's leading actor Salman Khan for eight years from 1991 till 1999. In December 1999, she returned to South Florida to continue her studies.[8]

She attended Nova Southeastern University in Florida, majoring in psychology, and obtained her undergraduate degree in two years. During this time that she became very interested in journalism and decided to attend the University of Miami to obtain a master's degree in broadcast journalism.[4]

During an interview with Peeping Moon, Somy Ali revealed that she was sexually abused at the age of 5 and 9 while living in Karachi and when shifted to Florida, she was raped at the age of 14 years.[9]

While at the University of Miami, Ali developed an interest in documentary films. Subsequently, in February 2003, she left the university to attend the New York Film Academy. She graduated with a degree in film making, direction, screenwriting and editing. Her early projects included short films on abortion, domestic violence, and teenage suicide.[4]

Ali became involved with women's rights issues in South Asia. She works toward publicizing bringing the plight of rape and domestic violence victims. Ali has written articles about rape victims Shazia Khalid, Sonia Naz and Mukhtaran Mai. "My goal is to help all of these women and make sure that every girl/woman in my country and universally is able to obtain an education and has her basic human rights," says Ali. Revenue from her clothing line, So-Me Designs is donated to her non-profit organisation No More Tears, which was founded in 2006.[10]

In 2011, Ali was honoured with the American Heritage Award from the American Immigration Council for her work with No More Tears, The Daily Point of Light Award April 15, 2015 by President George H. W. Bush and The National Domestic Violence Month "A Proclamation" by President Barack Obama for her work with No More Tears. [11]

She has also been working with fashion designer Anjali Phougat for charity.[12]

• Buland (1992) Unreleased
• Anth (1994) as Priya
• Krishan Avtaar (1993) as Sonia Sawant
• Yaar Gaddar (1994) as Shashi
• Teesra Kaun? (1994) as Priyanka / Manjulah
• Aao Pyaar Karen (1994) as Sonu S. Rai
• Andolan (1995) as Anita
• Mafia (1996) as Kiran Pawar
• Chupp (1997) as Aasha

• Official website
• Somy Ali at IMDb