Bhawana Somaaya

Bhawana Somaaya Biography

Bhawana Somaaya is a successful film journalist, critic, author, costume designer and historian. She started her career as film reporter in 1978 and later worked with several film magazines. She was the editor of Screen, a leading film magazine, from 2000 to 2007. She has written over 12 books on history of Hindi cinema and biographies of Bollywood successful actors. Salaam Bollywood (2000) and The Story So Far (2003) tell the story of Hindi cinema while the trilogy - Amitabh Bachchan — The Legend (1999), Bachchanalia — The Films And Memorabilia of Amitabh Bachchan (2009) and Amitabh Lexicon (2011) is a complete record of Mega Star Amitabh Bachchan’s film journey. She is also a trained Bharatnatyam dancer.

Somaaya was born and brought up Mumbai. She did her schooling from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Sion, Mumbai. She learnt Bharatnatyam from Vallabh Sangeetalaya in Andheri West. Later she took graduation in Psychology, completed L.L.B. (Criminology) from Government Law College, Mumbai and studied Journalism at K. C. College, Mumbai. She started her career as a journalist and columnist in the year 1978. As a columnist, "Casually Speaking" in film weekly, Cinema Journal was her first work. Later she worked with Super magazine and Movie magazine and later served as the assistant editor and co-editor. In 1989, she became the editor of G, a film magazine by Chitralekha Group. Later she worked with popular film magazine, Screen and served as its editor.

She has also written columns for The Observer, Afternoon, Janmabhoomi, The Hindu, The Hindustan Times and Indian Express. She has worked as a costume designer for actress Shabana Azmi for movies - Kaamyaab (1984), Bhavna (1984), Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar (1984) and Main Azaad Hoon (1989). Her first book was Amitabh: The Legend. She started writing books in 1999.

Published: N/A

Updated: January 08, 2014