Anokhi Magazine features 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 of 2009 as well one of the top 10 Fascinating South Asians of the year.

Sonal (sounds like “Toe-Null” or “Toe-Nall” if you wanna be fancy) grew up in Wheaton, Illinois and was always a performer. She was born to a supportive and loving family that is passionate about show business. She started her career as a competitive improvisational dancer when she was five years old and has choreographed many award-winning dances. While attending Wheaton-Warrenville South High School, she performed in show choir, was named Miss DuPage County Queen, and was chosen as one of DuPage’s Top Twenty Students. She was honored with the Burstan Kiwanis Leadership Award and attended Loyola University of Chicago as a Presidential Scholar. While at Loyola, Sonal was inducted into the national Psychology and Biology Honor Societies and later received the Weinig Travel Fellowship (which she utilized in a semester abroad in Rome…and backpacking around Europe). She did some volunteer work in Belize, joined the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, earned the Philanthropic Leadership Award and at graduation, she was selected as the student speaker to give the keynote address. She graduated cum laude with a major in theatre, minors in psychology, biology, and chemistry, and a concentration in pre-medicine. She decided not to go to medical school.

After college, Sonal performed at a zillion Theatres in Chicago including the Tony award Winning Goodman Theatre, Collaboraction, Running With Scissors, and Stir Friday Night (to name a few). She is a founding member of 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 pilot for ABC Family, The PTA. Never one who wants to stop learning, she studied with Lesly Kahn, The Groundlings, Margie Haber, and also graduated from The Second City Conservatory. She 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 was recently invited to give a lecture to SASA at Harvard University, host the Chicago Foundation for Women: Asian American Leadership Council Achievement Awards, and serve as a panelist at the Kriti Festival (the Midwest’s South Asian Literary Festival).  Also, she was honored by Loyola University’s profile series called “Loyola Alumni in Action.”  Sonal has been profiled and praised by various magazines, newspapers, reviewers, and critics.  To view some interviews/articles, please visit the press page on this website.

Sonal filmed 8 episodes as a major recurring role on “Scrubs” as new intern, Dr. Sunny Dey. In the same role, she has also completed shooting the web series “Scrubs: Interns”.  Sonal provided DVD Commentary for Season 8 episodes.

For Sonal, acting is a spiritual discovery. It’s true. She is admired for creating versatile, grounded, bold, and layered characters in comedy, character comedy, improvisation, and drama. Also, not necessarily in acting…but in life, she desires to connect, create, inspire, heal, and share love, peace, and laughter with everyone that she can.