By Odishatv Bureau
As Sooraj Pancholi celebrates his birthday today his life story remains a complex mix of promise turmoil and perseverance. Born into Bollywood royalty as the son of actors Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab Soorajrsquos entry into the film industry seemed inevitable.
However his career and personal life have been deeply entwined with controversies that often overshadowed his work.
Soorajrsquos biggest struggle came early in his career when he was arrested in connection with actress Jiah Khanrsquos tragic death in 2013. Accused of abetment to suicide the case dragged on for nearly a decade subjecting him to intense media scrutiny and public judgment.
The prolonged legal battle combined with the weight of public opinion stalled his momentum in Bollywood and took a toll on his mental health.
Sooraj Pancholirsquos Bollywood Debut
Despite these challenges Sooraj made his acting debut in 2015 with Salman Khanrsquos production Hero for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. The filmrsquos success was a ray of hope but sustaining that success proved difficult amid ongoing legal and personal battles.
In 2023 after years of courtroom proceedings Sooraj was acquitted of all charges due to lack of evidence. The verdict marked a turning point with Sooraj expressing relief and a desire to rebuild his life and career.
Apart from Hero Sooraj Pancholi has starred in several movies including Satellite Shankar 2019 Time To Dance 2021 and Kesari Veer 2025. However none of his movies could impress the audience.
Even his recently released film Kesari Veer is a historical action drama based on the story of the attack on the Somnath temple in the 14th century.
Though there were many expectations from the movie released on May 23 it was considered a box office flop. The film struggled to attract audiences and failed to perform well financially.