Sonal Jha is an Indian actress known for her work across television, film and theatre. Born in Patna, Bihar, she grew up immersed in theatre and began performing as an actress and singer in her hometown from a young age. She later moved to Delhi, where she completed a master's degree in history at Delhi University and joined the Ekjute Theatre Group, learning from veterans such as Nadira Babbar and performing in plays across the country.

Her screen career took off when filmmaker Prakash Jha cast her as Mahua, the mother of the title character, in the Bhojpuri series Bahubali. She then became a familiar face on Hindi television as Irawati in Balika Vadhu, and also appeared in Na Aana Is Des Laado and Sapno Ke Bhanwer Mein. On film, she has appeared in Aarakshan, Chillar Party, 3 Storeys and Lipstick Under My Burkha, and she also featured in the web series Sunflower. She plays Queen Sumitra, mother of Lakshman and Shatrughan, in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part 1, alongside Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash.