Sophiya Haque

Biography:

Sophiya Haque, born on June 14, 1971, in Portsmouth, Hampshire, was a multi-talented English actress, singer, video jockey, and dancer. Her diverse career encompassed various forms of entertainment. Haque’s heritage was a blend of her Bangladeshi father and British Jewish mother, and she grew up as the youngest of three daughters. Raised primarily by her mother, a schoolteacher, Haque embarked on her artistic journey early, commencing dance lessons at the tender age of two and a half at Mary Forrester’s Rainbow School of Dance in Portsmouth. At 13, she relocated to London to pursue full-time training at the Arts Educational Schools.

Haque’s career took off as the lead vocalist of the band Akasa, which secured a record deal with Warner Bros. in 1988. She then ventured into the world of television, serving as a video jockey for MTV Asia and Channel V for a notable seven-year period. In 1992, she became a presenter at STAR TV in Hong Kong, expanding her reach. Haque’s talents led her to India in 1994, where she began making appearances on Indian television. She eventually settled in Mumbai in 1997, where she worked extensively for Channel V India and made her foray into Bollywood films, with “Khoobsurat” being one of her initial cinematic ventures.

Throughout her career, Haque was known for her versatility, starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Bombay Dreams” in the UK in 2002, and taking on roles in various West End theatre productions, including “The Far Pavilions” in 2005 and “Wah! Wah! Girls” in 2012. Her contributions extended to the small screen, with appearances in notable shows such as “Coronation Street,” “House of Anubis,” and BBC’s “Fairy Tales.” Tragically, Haque was diagnosed with cancer during her performance in “Privates on Parade” in 2012 and, despite battling the illness, she passed away in her sleep on January 17, 2013, while undergoing medical tests in a London hospital.

In her personal life, Haque resided in Knaphill, Surrey, with her partner, musical director David White. At the time of her illness, the couple was in the process of building a houseboat, a dream they were pursuing together. Haque’s untimely demise deeply affected the entertainment world, marking the end of a multifaceted career that left a lasting impact on the industry.