# Sonali Joshi
**Sonali Joshi** is an Indian film actress who worked across Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, and [Bhojpuri cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/bhojpuri-cinema) in the 2000s and early 2010s, and later turned producer. She is best known for her early Telugu roles, the Hindi comedy-drama *Xcuse Me* (2003), and Bhojpuri films opposite [Pawan Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/pawan-singh) and [Dinesh Lal Yadav](https://www.edgepedia.org/dinesh-lal-yadav).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984[1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/telugu/movie-actress/sonali-joshi) |
| Debut | *Subbu* (Telugu, 2001), as Neeraja, opposite Jr. NTR, directed by Rudraraju Suresh Varma[1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/telugu/movie-actress/sonali-joshi) |
| Hindi films | *Xcuse Me* (2003) as Sundri Khanna; *Humse Hai Zamana* (2004)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1359890/) |
| Bhojpuri breakthrough | *Rangli Chunariya Tohre Naam* (2004), Pawan Singh's first film, which became a superhit[3](https://www.tv9hindi.com/entertainment/bhojpuri/who-is-bhojpuri-star-pawan-singh-first-actress-sonali-joshi-destroy-career-3555727.html) |
| Other Bhojpuri films | *Pratigya* (2009), *Deewana* (2009), *Daraar* (2010), *Janbaaz Jigarwale* (2010)[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sonali-Joshi/movies) • [5](https://www.moviebuff.com/sonali-joshi) |
| Production credit | *Lathe Joshi* (Marathi), as producer[5](https://www.moviebuff.com/sonali-joshi) |
## Career
Joshi debuted in [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema) with *Subbu* (2001), playing Neeraja opposite Jr. NTR. In 2002 she played Honey in the Telugu comedy *Sandade Sandadi*, and in 2003 she appeared in her first Hindi film, the comedy-drama *Xcuse Me*, as Sundri Khanna, directed by N. Chandra.[1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/telugu/movie-actress/sonali-joshi) In 2004 she appeared in the Hindi film *Humse Hai Zamana*, the Telugu romantic film *Abhi* (listed as *Yours Abhi*), and the Kannada film *Udees*, in which she played Sneha.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1359890/) • [5](https://www.moviebuff.com/sonali-joshi)
**Bhojpuri cinema.** Her pairing with Pawan Singh in *Rangli Chunariya Tohre Naam* (2004) was well received; the film was Singh's first, made largely in jest, and its success helped establish him as an actor.[3](https://www.tv9hindi.com/entertainment/bhojpuri/who-is-bhojpuri-star-pawan-singh-first-actress-sonali-joshi-destroy-career-3555727.html) She went on to appear in Bhojpuri films including *Hoke Tu Rahbu Hamar* (2007), *Pratigya* (2009), *Deewana* (2009), *Tohar Naikhe Kavno Jod Tu Bejod Badu Ho* (2009), *Daraar* (2010), and *Janbaaz Jigarwale* (2010), working with stars such as Dinesh Lal Yadav (Nirahua) and Pawan Singh.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1359890/) • [4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sonali-Joshi/movies) In *Pratigya* she played Sundari.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1359890/)
**Later work.** Her later screen credits include the Hindi films *Blind People* (2015) and *Murder Madhuri* (2016), and *Chhora Ganga Kinare Wala* (2015), in which she played Rani's sister.[5](https://www.moviebuff.com/sonali-joshi) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1359890/) She also moved into production, producing the Marathi film *Lathe Joshi*.[5](https://www.moviebuff.com/sonali-joshi)
## Departure from Bhojpuri cinema
After building a name in Bhojpuri films, Joshi decided to pursue the South Indian film industry instead. According to Hindi-language entertainment coverage, the move did not work out: films stopped coming in the South, she did not make a return to Bhojpuri cinema, and she disappeared from the industry. She subsequently appeared in some television shows and remains active on Instagram, where she shares photos and videos.[6](https://www.aajtak.in/entertainment/bhojpuri/story/bhojpuri-actress-sonali-joshi-career-destroy-pawan-singh-nirhua-tmovb-1579586-2022-11-20) Retrospective features list her among Bhojpuri actresses who once dominated the industry and later faded from it.[7](https://www.uptak.in/bhojpuri-cinema/story/from-sonali-joshi-to-rinku-ghoshthese-actresses-who-once-ruled-the-industry-have-now-disappeared-from-bhojpuri-cinema-3261262-2026-06-03)
## References
1. [Sonali Joshi Biography, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/telugu/movie-actress/sonali-joshi)
2. [Sonali Joshi (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1359890/)
3. [Who is Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh's first actress Sonali Joshi, TV9 Hindi](https://www.tv9hindi.com/entertainment/bhojpuri/who-is-bhojpuri-star-pawan-singh-first-actress-sonali-joshi-destroy-career-3555727.html)
4. [Sonali Joshi Filmography, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sonali-Joshi/movies)
5. [Sonali Joshi, Moviebuff](https://www.moviebuff.com/sonali-joshi)
6. [Bhojpuri Actress Sonali Joshi career, Aaj Tak](https://www.aajtak.in/entertainment/bhojpuri/story/bhojpuri-actress-sonali-joshi-career-destroy-pawan-singh-nirhua-tmovb-1579586-2022-11-20)
7. [From Sonali Joshi to Rinku Ghosh: actresses who disappeared from Bhojpuri cinema, UPTak](https://www.uptak.in/bhojpuri-cinema/story/from-sonali-joshi-to-rinku-ghoshthese-actresses-who-once-ruled-the-industry-have-now-disappeared-from-bhojpuri-cinema-3261262-2026-06-03)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 2000s onward › Surnames H to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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