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News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Sonu Sood Birthday: Fateh Star's Net Worth, Top Movies And Dream Home Tour
Last Updated: Happy Birthday Sonu Sood: From engineering to acting, he rose as a pan-India star, known for villainous roles and heroic deeds. Here's a look at his journey and more. Happy Birthday Sonu Sood: He's truly a pan-India star, and might we just add, one of the most good-looking villains in the film industry. Hailing from Moga, Punjab, Sonu Sood started his career with modelling while he was pursuing his graduation in engineering from Yeshwantrao Chavan College of Engineering, Nagpur. In 1998, he came to Mumbai to become an actor. The actor stepped into the lights, camera, action industry with the Tamil film Kallazhagar in 1999. After that, he marked his Bollywood debut with the film Shaheed-E-Azam in 2002. He got his first huge break in 2008 with Mani Ratnam's film Jodhaa Akbar. Since then, he has never looked back and is now one of the most sought-after actors in the film industry. Sonu is best known for his commanding antagonist roles in blockbusters such as Arundhati, Shootout at Wadala, and Dabangg, earning him several accolades. Besides being a renowned actor, he is known to be a man with a heart of gold. He earned the title of a real-life hero for his humanitarian activities during the deadly virus COVID-19. As Sonu Sood celebrates another year, let's take a closer look at his net worth, top movies, upcoming projects, and his new luxury home: Sonu Sood Birthday: Net Worth The 52-year-old actor has been working hard in both Bollywood and Tollywood films. But over the years, Sonu Sood has steadily built his wealth not just from acting but also from brand endorsements and production houses. According to media reports, he has a net worth of around Rs 135 to 140 crore. He charges around Rs 2-4 crore per project and owns a production house by the name of Shakti Sagar Productions. The actor has a magnificent house in Mumbai and a hotel in Juhu. Talking about his car collection, Sonu Sood reportedly owns a Mercedes-Benz ML Class 350 CDI, which is roughly priced at Rs 66 lakh. He also owns an Audi Q7, which costs Rs 80 lakh, and a Porsche Panama, which is said to be Rs 2 crores. Sonu Sood Birthday: Top Movies Dabangg: How can we not add Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg to his best movie collection? In the 2010 film, Sonu Sood's performance as Chedi Singh received much applause. Directed by Abhinav Singh Kashyap, the actioner also featured Sonakshi Sinha, Vinod Khanna, Arbaaz Khan, and Mahesh Manjrekar in key roles. Arundhati: Another widely appreciated character of Sonu Sood was his role as an antagonist in the Telugu horror fantasy film Arundhati. Co-starring Anushka Shetty in the lead role, the film bagged multiple awards for it, including the Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Award for Best Villain and the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu for his performance in the film. Aashiq Banaya Aapne: The 2005 romantic thriller film starred Sonu Sood, Emraan Hashmi, and Tanushree Dutta. Directed by Aditya Datt, the film followed a love triangle between their characters. To date, the film has a special place in the hearts of fans for its amazing songs. Shootout at Wadala: Next on the list is this 2013 action crime film, Shootout at Wadala. Helmed by Sanjay Gupta, the film featured Sonu as a gangster, Dilawar Imtiaz Haksar. His role was inspired by gang lord Dawood Ibrahim. The film also starred John Abraham, Tusshar Kapoor, Ronit Roy, Manoj Bajpayee, Anil Kapoor, and Kangana Ranaut in crucial roles. R Rajkumar: We just can't deny that Sonu became filmmakers' favourite actor to portray a negative role in action entertainers. The film, directed by Prabhudeva, featured him alongside Shahid Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha. While Shahid won fans for his rugged avatar and playful character, Sonu was appreciated for his villainous act. Sonu Sood Birthday: Upcoming Projects Nandi The actor is gearing up to direct and star in Nandi, which is slated to begin soon. A few weeks back, Sonu Sood visited Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala to offer prayers and seek blessings along with his family. #WATCH | Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh | Actor Sonu Sood visits Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala to offer Sood says, 'When I came here for the first time, it was 25 years ago. Today, I come here with my family. I pray for happiness, peace and prosperity… — ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2025 While speaking to ANI, he spoke about his experience visiting the holy shrine and announced his upcoming film, Nandi. 'When I came here for the first time, it was 25 years ago. Today, I come here with my family. I pray for happiness, peace, and prosperity for all in the world… We are starting a new project, a film called 'Nandi'—I 'am acting and directing both. It will begin soon," said the actor. Sonu and his family recently moved into a stunning new bungalow named 'Gangotri" in Mumbai. Director Farah Khan's recent vlog gave fans an intimate peek into the opulent property, showcasing its captivating interiors. Estimated to be worth around Rs 20 crore, as per real estate platform Jugyah, Gangotri is a serene retreat that blends elegance with personal touches. Grand Entrance & Living Area Guests are welcomed by a large Buddha statue set amid lush greenery. The living space features cream and white‑toned sofas, soft lighting, a sleek centre table, and thoughtfully curated wall decor. Children's Rooms Both his sons (Ishant and Ayaan) have their rooms designed and decorated according to their preferences. Starting with Ishant's ground-floor bedroom, his room has a grey palette and a striking canvas painting of a car, a creative masterpiece crafted by Ishant himself. Ayaan's room, on the other hand, includes a grey palette, an eye-catching anime-inspired wall mural, and bright yellow furniture that adds a pop of colour. The balcony adjoining Ayaan's room is shaded by lush trees, including a fruit-bearing mango tree. Sneaker Room and Om Shanti Om stairs The highlight of the house was the room with a transparent wardrobe, dedicated entirely to his sneaker collection. Another highlight of Sonu Sood's house was the staircase. Farah Khan was mesmerised by its design and structure, and she couldn't help but say that it resembles the Om Shanti Om set. Sonu agrees and reveals that the idea was inspired by that film. Stylish Dining Adjacent to the stylish staircase, which leads to the upper level of the duplex, lies a lavish dining area that epitomises luxury and architectural drama. Kitchen & Spiritual Corner A sleek, modular, air‑conditioned kitchen with optimal space utilisation is another attraction of the actor's luxurious house. Adding traditional holiness was a peaceful temple nook area beside the kitchen. Media Room & Fan Art Upstairs, the family unwinds in their cosy media room, furnished with plush white sofas and a large screen. A standout feature in that room is a unique thread art portrait of Sonu Sood, gifted to him by a devoted fan, showcasing the actor's enduring connection with his admirers. First Published: July 30, 2025, 07:02 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Lord Kallazhagar reaches His abode
Lord Kallazhagar, the presiding deity of Sundararaja Perumal Temple in Azhagarkoil, reached His abode on Friday morning, on the penultimate day of the Chithirai festival of the temple. On Thursday morning, Lord Kallazhagar on His 'Poo Pallakku' began His return journey to Azhagarkoil. Thousands of devotees had gathered at Tallakulam to catch a glimpse of the deity. The deity, mounted on a palanquin bedecked with flowers, proceeded on the return journey visiting mandagapadis enroute. Lord Kallazhagar halted at Appan Tirupathi on Thursday night. Thousands of devotees from far and near descended at Appan Tirupathi to witness the deity. Special pujas, rituals and cultural programmes were held. The venue wore a festive look on the occasion. The deity then proceeded from Appan Tirupathi at around 3 a.m.. The deity reached His abode in Azhagarkoil at around 10.20 a.m. amid chanting by the devotees. The devotees welcomed Lord Kallazhagar to His abode by sprinkling flowers on the deity as He entered the temple premises. Devotees distributed prasadam to the people. Pumpkins were smashed at the entrance near Pathinettam Padi Karuppanasamy Temple in an attempt to ward off the evil eye. The Chithirai festival will conclude on Saturday with 'Utsava Santhi' performed to the deity.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- The Hindu
Law and order: Good planning and meticulous execution by police helps Chithirai festival pass off incident-free
A meticulous and elaborate planning with some innovative ideas coupled with perfect execution by Madurai City Police saw the crowd-pulling Chithirai festival pass off incident-free in the last one week. Having learnt from bitter lessons in the past, the police left no stones unturned right from regulating the crowd to providing them safe and secure space and keeping trouble mongers away. 'We tried to fill up all the small gaps in security arrangements to avoid untoward incidents as hundreds of thousands of people from children to aged persons turned up for the mega events like car festival (of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple) and Ethir sevai and the ritual of entry of Lord Kallazhagar into Vaigai river,' said Commissioner of Police, J. Loganathan. After having made the decisions at the drawing board, the police officials had a thorough follow up with officials of all departments concerned to i implement the time-consuming work. The Corporation officials removed encroachments from roadsides and took up patch works on the road. Engineers of Highways Department cleaned up the dug-up Alagarkoil Road from Tamukkam to Goripalayam and also covered the under-construction sites and scaffolding to make them out of bounds for the enthusiastic crowd of devotees. The police also drew elaborate arrangement for jam-packed crowd that would stay put on Alagarkoil Road along Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple where Lord Kallazhagar stays for Tirumanjanam ritual. Filtering trouble-mongers To keep the trouble mongers away, the police had different layers of picketing at multiple points on all roads leading towards Tamukkam and Goripalayam junction. 'Men in civvies were deployed at 51 tracks to filter drunk persons, crime offenders and trouble mongers. These teams were able to pick up some 60 persons and also seize some weapons much before these people could mingle in the crowd,' Mr. Longanathan said. These people could have created some nuisance like harassing women if they had got into the crowd. Similarly, some 100 CCTV cameras were erected on this stretch. 'These cameras with artificial intelligence facility were put up to detect a long list of history-sheeters and property offenders from across the State. Six drones were set off in the air by the police to have an aerial view of the choc-o-bloc crowd. 'We were able to alert the nearest police teams around to manage the crowd throughout the night at Tamukkam and also on the Vaigai riverbed,' he added. Watch on Vaigai water The police also kept a watch on the depth of water flowing in the Vaigai riverbed so that it did not pose danger to the devotees wading through it to have a glimpse of Lord Kallazhagar. Despite that, teams of firemen and swimmers from police were deployed at vantage points to rescue people in distress as a precautionary measure. The Commissioner said that the identity tags distributed among hundreds of children paid off. 'Though only one incident of the police having to restore a missing child with its parents happened in the entire Chithirai festival, the very tying of tags by police made the parents more conscious in taking care of the children in the crowd,' he added. The QR codes displayed in over 100 places came handy for three persons to contact the police during emergency. The Commissioner said that a gangway put for the second year helped the massive crowd of devotees from Goripalayam junction to trickle into riverbed via Moongilkadai Street smoothly without interrupting the pathway of the deity. 'This helped melting of crowd without any resistance at the junction,' he added.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Time of India
Kallazhagar begins return journey to Alagar hills
Madurai : Lord Kallazhagar began his return journey to the Alagar hills on Thursday morning, marking the final leg of the Chithirai festivities . The revered deity, who descended into the city in royal grandeur, was taken on the traditional 'Poo Pallakku' (floral palanquin) procession, a significant cultural and spiritual event that drew thousands of devotees through the night and into early morning. Mounted on Anantha Rayer Pallakku, the deity was decorated with vibrant floral arrangements and regal ornaments, creating a stunning visual spectacle. The palanquin, adorned entirely with fresh flowers of varied hues, moved gracefully through the streets, with devotees chanting hymns and offering prayers. For many, witnessing this part of the festival is considered auspicious, said the devotees. The procession which commenced at 7am from Ramanathapuram Mannar Sethupathi Mandapam at Tamukkam passed through important locations including Mariamman temple (out post), Ambalakarar Mandapam, and Moondru Maavadi. The deity crossed Madurai city limits on the way to Sundararajan Patti and is scheduled to reach Alagarkovil by Friday morning. While the spiritual significance of the procession was not lost on the crowds, the event also caused heavy traffic disruptions, particularly on Natham Road and adjacent localities such as Narimedu and Bibi Kulam. Several arterial and interior roads were blocked, resulting in long delays for morning commuters. "We couldn't step out for work or drop our children at school on time. The procession is a cherished tradition, but there needs to be better traffic management," said R. Balamurugan, a resident of Bibi Kulam. Another commuter, Priya Suresh of Narimedu, said clear communication and alternate routes should be planned in advance. City police deployed personnel at key junctions and used barricades to manage the crowd and traffic. Officials later urged the public to cooperate, citing the festival's cultural importance and large turnout.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Lord Kallazhagar leaves for His abode on ‘Poo Pallakku'
Thousands of devotees gathered in Tallakulam early on Thursday morning to witness Lord Kallazhagar on His 'Poo Pallakku' as He began his return journey to Azhagarkoil. Special pujas and rituals were performed to the Lord at Ramanathapuram Mannar Sethupathi Mandapam in Tallakulam. The deity, mounted on a palanquin bedecked with flowers, proceeded at around 3 a.m. The devotees who had waited throughout the night to witness the Lord leaving for His abode followed the deity. Lord Kallazhagar received a rousing welcome at Karuppanasamy Temple and Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple in Tallakulam and the mandagapadis enroute. Earlier, the deity had halted at around 480 mandagapadis in the city for 'Ethir Sevai.' It was a festive atmosphere as the streets were chock a block with devotees from far and near who had gathered to witness the event. Vendors were selling snacks and fancy items on the roadsides. The devotees distributed prasadam to the people. The procession reached Moondrumavadi at around 9 p.m.. After an overnight halt at Appan Tirupathi, Lord Kallazhagar will reach Azhagarkoil early on Friday. 'Utsava Santhi' will be performed to the deity on Saturday.
