Not many Bollywood debutantes can boast of creating a 'historic' dialog in their first film. Sonakshi Sinha's "Thappad se dar nahi lagta sahab" became a rage overnight and will be remembered for very long. This was the kind of a grand entry that Sonakshi Sinha made in Bollywood, with her debut movie 'Dabangg'. The rest, as they say, is history.
The lovely actress has surely come a long way from her first movie. She is now busy with a handful of interesting assignments -'Once Upon a Time In Mumbaai', 'Bullet Raja', 'Rambo Rajkumar', 'Pistol', untitled Prabhu Deva project and the Hindi remake of the Telugu hit 'Okkadu'.
However, she took time off her busy schedule to meet with us for a chat. In a heart-felt interview, Sonakshi talks about her upcoming release 'Lootera', her co-star in the movie - Ranveer Singh and why she believes she was the perfect fit for the role.
Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane of 'Udaan' fame, Lootera is all set to release on July 5.
Can you describe your character in Lootera?
My character's name in Lootera is Pakhi. She is a young and highly educated girl, who wants to be a writer and has a keen interest in the arts. A happy go lucky girl , she falls hopelessly in love for the first time with a visiting archaeologist, Varun. Pakhi goes through a range of emotions in an era when love relationships were very innocent. I thoroughly enjoyed portraying this character who had a distinct emotional graph and journey.
Your chemistry with Ranveer in Lootera is much talked. How did you bring about this chemistry?
It wasn't very tough because of the way the script is written and the characters have been sketched. The film is set in an age of innocence where love and romance was depicted more through the eyes than anything else like physicality or banter. The characters go through various emotional ups and downs but in every display of emotion they are deeply connected with each other and that's what really creates the chemistry between Pakhi and Varun.
Was Pakhi a difficult role to play?
Pakhi has been my most difficult role to play till date solely because of the range of emotions I had to display being a girl from the 1950's, an era I know nothing about. Getting her body language, dialect and expressions right was quite challenging.
You said in a recent interview that only you could do the role of Pakhi. Why do you think so?
When somebody narrates a script to me, I can usually picture another actress that could also possibly do the role, if not for me. With Pakhi's role I couldn't. From the minute director Vikramaditya Motwane started narrating to the end, I believed this role was written only for me. I can't really explain it now, you will have to watch the movie to know exactly what I'm talking about.
Do you think you might be sweeping away all the awards next awards season?
I've never worked towards an award for any of my films including this one, so I can't say. I'm not pretentious, or apologetic about the roles I've done so far. I do a film because I like its premise, or the role and would like to see that film from an audiences perspective. Because I think really highly of Vikramaditya Motwane as a person and as a director, I have great expectations from this movie. I want people to see it for the genius that he is.
You probably are the busiest actress this year and 2014 with a big lineup of movies. Do you have any time for yourself ?
I don't but not that I'm complaining because I enjoy my work and every aspect of it. I get to travel, learn new things everyday... I'm living the dream.
A common complaint among your fans is that you pick mature roles. When will we get to see you play a young/glamorous girl ?
Fans or you? I'm young so my characters are young as well... Just because they are in the Indian space and fully clothed does not make them older or non-glamorous. My fans appreciate my work, and they're my driving force. Everything will happen in time. 2 and a half years in the industry I'm already on my tenth film... I must be doing something right! So I'm guessing it'll happen soon enough.
How does your typical day look like?
Its very packed
Can you describe your co-stars in a sentence?
Ranveer Singh - energizer bunny
Saif Ali Khan - witty
Imran Khan - sweet
Akshay Kumar- hilarious
Shahid Kapoor - mature
Salman Khan - chilled out
Ajay Devgn - prankster