Sara Ali Khan was born on 12 August 1995 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India, now Mumbai. She is the daughter of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh and belongs to the prominent Pataudi and Hindi-film families. Her paternal grandmother was actress Sharmila Tagore, while her paternal grandfather was former Indian cricketer and Nawab of Pataudi, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
Sara completed her schooling in Mumbai before moving to the United States for higher education. She graduated from Columbia University in New York with a degree in history and political science.
She made her acting debut with the romantic drama Kedarnath (2018), directed by Abhishek Kapoor and co-starring Sushant Singh Rajput. Her performance received positive attention, and she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
In the same year, Sara appeared in Simmba (2018) opposite Ranveer Singh. Directed by Rohit Shetty, the film became a major commercial success and established her as a popular young Hindi-film actress.
She subsequently appeared in films including Love Aaj Kal (2020), Coolie No. 1 (2020) and Atrangi Re (2021). Her performance in Atrangi Re, directed by Aanand L. Rai and co-starring Dhanush and Akshay Kumar, received considerable attention.
Sara later explored different genres with films such as Gaslight (2023), Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023) and Ae Watan Mere Watan (2024). She has also appeared in the Hindi-language anthology Anurag Basu's Metro... In Dino.
Apart from films, Sara has become a popular celebrity personality through interviews, fashion appearances and television and digital promotions. Her candid public personality and distinctive style have contributed to her popularity among younger audiences.