Somy Ali | |
|---|---|
| سومی علی (Urdu) | |
 Ali in 2022 | |
| Born | (1976-03-25)25 March 1976 (age 49) Karachi, Pakistan |
| Education |
|
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, founder and president of No More Tears USA[1] |
| Political party | Democratic[2] |
| Partner | Salman Khan (1991–1999)[3][4] |
Somy Ali (Urdu:سومی علی; born 25 March 1976)[5] is a Pakistani-American actress, writer, filmmaker, model and activist who has worked inBollywood films.[6] She runs a non-profit organization named No More Tears since 2007.[7]
Ali was born on 25 March 1976, inKarachi inSindh, Pakistan into a family of wealth and prosperity.[8] Her mother Tehmina isIraqi and her father Madad Ali Madan is Pakistani. After studying at theConvent of Jesus and Mary, Karachi until age 9, she moved toSouth Florida in theUnited States with her mother and brother.[9] During an interview, Ali revealed that she was sexually abused at the ages of 5 and 9 by her household staff while living in Karachi, Pakistan, and when she moved toFlorida at age 9, at 14, she was raped by a boy, 17, inMiami.[10][8] Her mother was also a victim ofdomestic violence in Pakistan that she and her brother would have to witness.[8][11]
After she dropped out of school, Ali convinced her father to allow her to move to the home ofBollywood inMumbai, India, at age 16 due to her inspiration from her teenage crush, Bollywood actor,Salman Khan.[8] She was involved in modeling projects and also performed in Hindi movies while in Mumbai. She had ten appearances inBollywood movies between 1991 and 1998, as a leading lady with top Bollywood actors.[5]
She moved back to Florida, and acquired herGED, and then attendedNova Southeastern University inDavie, Florida, where she majored inpsychology, and obtained her undergraduate degree in two years.[8] She also became very interested in journalism and documentary filmmaking. She then attended theUniversity of Miami to obtain a masters degrees in broadcast journalism, psychology and filmmaking. She went on to attendNew York Film Academy. where she graduated to a degree in filmmaking, direction, screenwriting and editing. Her early projects included short films on abortion, domestic violence, and teenage suicide. She later attended theConnecticut School of Broadcasting in Florida and obtained a certification in broadcast journalism in 2004.[12]
Ali became involved with women's rights issues inSouth Asia. She works toward publicizing, bringing the plight of rape and domestic violence victims. Ali has written articles about rape victimsShazia Khalid, Sonia Naz andMukhtaran Mai. "My goal is to help all of these women and make sure that every girl/woman in my country and universally can obtain an education and has her basic human rights," says Ali. Revenue from her Films in Bollywood and a t-shirt line, she initiated to sell in order to gain donations for her non-profit organization No More Tears, which was founded in 2007.[13]In 2011, Ali was honored with the American Heritage Award from theAmerican Immigration Council for her work with No More Tears, The Daily Point of Light Award 15 April 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.In 2013 Somy was the recipient of the L'Oreal Woman of Worth Award.[14]
In 2021, Ali and her non-profit organization No More Tears were featured in theDiscovery+docuseriesFight or Flight.[15]
She was in a relationship with Bollywood superstarSalman Khan for eight years from 1991 to 1999. In December 1999, she returned toSouth Florida to continue her studies.[16] In 2024, Ali revealed that her relationship with Khan had ended due to alleged infidelity.[17]