Sonal Shah

Anokhi Magazine featured Sonal Shah as one of the most Sexy and Successful people of 2010. She was also most recently named one of the Top 50 Coolest Desis in the world as well one of the top 10 Fascinating South Asians of the year.

Sonal was born to in Wheaton, Illinois and has always been a performer. She started her career as a competitive improvisational dancer. She graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a major in theatre, a concentration in pre-medicine, and was selected to give the keynote address at commencement.

After college, Sonal performed at Theatres in Chicago including the Tony award Winning Goodman Theatre, Collaboraction, Running With Scissors, and Stir Friday Night. Along with some friends, she started Rasaka Theatre Company and supplemented her acting education at Improv Olympic and The Moscow Art Theatre School at Harvard University.

After moving to Los Angeles, Sonal was quick to start testing for pilots and booked her first series regular role in a sitcom for ABC Family, The PTA. She later filmed 8 episodes in a top- of-show recurring role on “Scrubs” as new intern, Dr. Sunny Dey. In the same role, she has shot the web series “Scrubs: Interns” and provided DVD Commentary for Season 8 episodes. She has studied with John Rosenfeld, Lesly Kahn, The Groundlings, Margie Haber, and also graduated from The Second City Conservatory. She has performed with The Lonestar Ensemble, Artwallah, and CAPE, and was selected to participate in the NBC Diversity Showcase. She also presented the “Best Comedy Magic” award (with Neil Flynn) at the World Magic Awards.

Sonal has starred in 7 short films in the last 6 months which are traveling the festival circuit. Notably, her short "The First Date" won the audience award at Outfest 2012 and is currently a semi-finalist for the NBC Shortcuts Festival.

Among various projects, Sonal is currently writing a pilot "Sleeping With Sonal," performing standup, and hosting events across the US. She recently hosted the NASABA Gala held at the LA Live Marriott, hosted the Chicago Foundation for Women: Asian American Leadership Council Achievement Awards, lectured to SASA at Harvard University, and served as a panelist at the Kriti Festival (the Midwest’s South Asian Literary Festival). She was honored by Loyola University’s profile series called “Loyola Alumni in Action.” Sonal has been profiled and praised by various magazines, newspapers, and critics. Check out www.sonalshah.net.