Bhawana Somaaya commenced her career in the late 70s as Chief Reporter with Free Press Journal's film weekly titled Cinema Journal then moved to Super as Special Correspondent.
In 81 joined Movie as Assistant Editor and in 85 was promoted as Joint Editor. In 2000 joined as Editor Chief Screen, a film weekly of The Indian Express Group. In 2012 was appointed as Editor Chief Block Buster
Her involvement with Hindi Cinema has not always been as a commentator. Critical of the unrealistic, stereotypical costumes of the Hindi film heroine, she had taken up a challenge from Shabana Azmi and turned designer.
She is currently the creative consultant to Enlighten Films and their website Dear Cinema, a guest lecturer at MET college and serving her second term on the Advisory Panel of Central Board of Film Certification. Somaaya does a weekly film review and a Sunday show on 92.7 Big Fm.