Sonakshi Sinha's Big Interview

I’m not going to crucify my father for what he did years back!

In perhaps the most frank interview ever,Sonakshi Sinha reveals her strategy for rapid success, handling big competitions,parentage, Reena Roy and her decision not to not to expose on screen.

 Afsana Ahmed

This Septermber Sonakshi Sinha completes three successful years in Bollywood. Although I have known her much before she became an actress my mind was filled with preconceived notions ...star-kid, easy success, just another ornamental piece etc. when I was approached to feature her.

Achievers do not rest on surging success, I thought again. And clearly Sonakshi’s career is gaining momentum. We don’t think anybody else has managed to do 10 films in just about three years! The actress is currently doing my 11^th film and there are two more to begin! Besides, the fact that the twenty six year old effectively wrote her own success story, despite a serious weight problem made for a good reading. So most definitely Sonakshi deserves this space in the Big interview.

As she gears up for R… Raj Kumar and Bullet Raja we catch up at their plus Ramayana building.

Lots of people must have asked you about your uncanny resemblance with Reena Roy and there have even been denials from you. But has any doubts ever crossed your mind about your parentage?

No doubts have ever crossed my mind. Because I feel I look like my mom (Poonam Sinha). Maybe my colour is like my dad, but my features are like my mom. It makes for a good headlines no?

But there’s an uncanny resemblance, can you disagree?       

Chhodo, resemblance hoge toh hoge na. I can’t help it know. People also say that I look like a lot of people, I can’t name them. But I don’t take it seriously.

But you are aware of the reported romance between Reena Roy your dad ( Shatgrughan Sinha)? BOX

I think it happened when I was not even born. So it’s not something that I would have known at that point of time when I was growing up.

When did you find it out?

I found out when I was growing up and started understanding things. But I’m not going to crucify my father for something he did years back. It is his past. And everybody has a past. So I don’t think too much into it. Nor do I pay attention to it. Like I said it just makes really good headlines, juicy gossip to some people but for me this is my family.

How will you react if you happen to meet Reena Roy someday?

I’m a very well brought up girl. And I will treat her the way I treat my other elder. I’ll say, `Namaste, aunty how are you’. Nice to meet you’. Why would I treat her any different?

Are you aware that you’re still scrutinized for your curves?

If it doesn’t matter I don’t care. I’m a very confident person. I was always picked up for my weight in school and college. I worked very hard to look the way I look today. I know my strength and weaknesses and play on them accordingly. I have faced criticism when I stepped into the industry and I’m aware that my weight is discussed even today. But I make sure it doesn’t bother me. I focus on my work and I’m flourishing despite criticism.

Who had the confidence to see you as a future actress?

I was heavily overweight, wouldn’t consider myself good looking at that point of time, so my mind was never on it. But my mother wanted me to become an actress and I kept fighting with her. Salman Khan was the other person who would always tell me that I could become an actress.

 Are you sure you didn’t secretly want to be an actor?

 If I would have desired than I would have planned for it. I would have trained myself better, lost the weight earlier and would have enrolled in some acting class. I never did that all that; it means I didn’t harbor any secret ambition.

Unfortunately grooming and shedding weight these days is usually connected with a Bollywood aspiration?

I disagree. I remember my mom (Poonam Sinha) used to be on my case to lose weight unlike my dad who would occasionally urge it mainly for health reason. Let me tell you when I was nineteen, I started going to the gym but I couldn’t run on the treadmill for more than a minute or two. Even normal walking at a stretch for more than 15 minutes was difficult for me. And that’s when I decided, bahut kha liya, it’s time to knock it off all.

PG 2

No matter how much I love it I will never do a film like The Dirty Picture!

Do you feel empowered that today you’re financially independent?

Money has never been the reason why I work and touchwood in the future too; it should never be the reason. We have been taught not to ever splurge or flaunt money, so we know the value of money. We travelled by auto rickshaws and local trains in school and colleges, had a fix pocket money in college which was Rs.700 a week. Even today I ask my mother for money if I need.

Interesting…

Yes, it was so much fun to travel by trains. I remember in the peak hour (5pm) when college hours would be over, I would get into the second class ladies compartment of a crowded train. I would chat with the ladies and be part of their conversation. All that has stayed with me. Perhaps that’s why people say I can connect with the masses. If you can’t connect with the masses on a personal level how will you connect to them on screen?

I also remember once I was waiting outside the college gate for a rickshaw with my bags of assignments. Arbaaz (Khan) who was passing saw me, stopped his car and asked me to get into the car. I didn’t come with him. So he went back and called my mom, `I don’t believe Shatrugun Sinha’s daughter is waiting for a rickshaw on the roads. I’m so proud of her’.     

There is this perception that you had a crush on Salman Khan?

I have never been awestruck by him. He has always spoken to me on a one on one and as a friend and has been very blunt with me. In fact I was very young when I saw Maine Pyar Kiya came, and I used to watch it over and over again only for the pigeon and for Bhagyashree. 

What does your mirror tell you? Is it your admirer or gives a reality check?

I guess, mirror is a tool for me just to check if I’m looking fine or not. I’m not self obsessed and I’m not delusional. Sometime I feel I’m a misfit in the industry, because I’m not like your normal actress, who takes 2/3 hours to get ready. I’m out in half an hour to give my shot.

So what are your weakness and strength?

My confidence is my strength. Even though I was fat, I couldn’t be pushed around because I was never a meek or quiet girl.

Weakness?

I wouldn’t call it weakness, but there is certain choice I have made about films that I will not do, or scenes that I will avoid.

Like?

I will not do a Dirty Picture, no matter how much I love the film. I truly enjoyed the film, I think Vidya Balan is a fantastic actor and she did an excellent job.

Heard you always have a clause included in the contract about no exposer and no kiss? BOX

No bikinis, no kiss and no highly intimate scenes. I don’t think it is cool! I’m very clear about it. Nobody has come to me with that kind of stuff and even if they have, the requested changes are complied with. I’ve a lot more to offer than just shedding clothes. And that’s why people work under my terms and conditions, because they know I will bring something to the table which other actors cannot. I do films that can be watched with families and are appreciated by the masses.

Is there a reason? BOX

I’ll not be able to watch it with my family. And at the end of the day my father has a certain standing in the society, a certain background in the politics. He comes from Patna (Bihar) where I’m looked at as Bihar ki Beti and there are lots of people whose hopes are riding on me.

After Katrina Kaif, you’re the only actor to be repeated by Akshay Kumar. Why do you think?

To my understanding we both have a very good working rapport, we both are very punctual and we save our producers and directors a lot of money, time and energy, which is why people like to cast us together.

Have you ever met Shah Rukh?

Yes, we were on a flight together. He came out and dropped me till my car and made sure that I was in my car and then he left from the airport. He didn’t need to do that but it was very sweet of him. He’s a very chivalrous person!

You seem to be very protected by your family. Tell me would you have struggled and survived in a different city like say a Katrina (Kaif) or a Deepika (Padukone)? PULL QUOTE

I’m very dependent on my family and need my people around me. So it sounds scary to me. I don’t think I can. It needs lots of courage to do that.

Unlike you your brother Luv who started before you, couldn’t crack it in the industry. Do you feel a tad conscious about it since you stay in the same house?

Both Luv and Kush have made me feel that they are very proud of me. They never really made me feel like ‘oh you got it easy’ and all that. It’s my personal opinion that it’s much more difficult for boys to crack it than for girls. I started off with Salman Khan who was one of the biggest star of the country.  But for my brother to make his debut and carry a film on his shoulder by himself is a different thing. So bygones are bygones, and my brothers are putting up a production house together and they are working in it.

Who’re you close to, mom or dad?

Mom. She has always been there while dad was always travelling. But I’m close to him and pampered by him. Mom gave up her career to bring us up. You know, a lot of mothers are busy either their careers or kitty parties but mom never attended such parties.

Your thoughts on marriage. How soon or later you wish to change the course of your life? Pull Quote

My dad will be last person to see me get married, because he wants to keep me forever with him. He doesn’t want me to go to my husband. My dad will be happiest if I get married at a very late stage.

Will you marry an actor? BOX

I wouldn’t want to marry an actor because I know that they are so busy that there’s no family time for them. I’ve seen it with my dad and today being an actor myself I barely get time to spend time with my loved ones. So if I’m with someone I want all the time and the attention and I won’t be able to handle it if I don’t get that.

So what kind of a person would be your choice?

Somebody well settled who will be able to give me the life that my parents have been able to afford, but I should be in a position where I can take care of myself. I’m a sucker for love. When I fall in love my world revolves around that person.

There were rumors about you dating the company head (Bunty Sachdev) which handles your account. True?

No. I’m single.

Heard you’ve a 1.30 am deadline at home?

Yes. Cinderella gets back home by 12 am and I return by 1.30am. I have to obey that as mom makes the rules. But they should be so happy because I barely go out.

Sonakshi’s 5 valuable advise for celebrity kids.

 Never get carried away by your parents’ stardom. It’s theirs not yours.

Never drop your parent’s name. Till today I have never used my father’s name.

Be connected to regular and common things. Don’t fly high on the lavish lifestyle your parents have given you.

 Respect people. Being a star kid it’s very easy to dismiss someone or snub someone. Don’t do that. It’s very uncool and it doesn’t reflect well at you or your parents.

Be charitable: If it’s in your capacity to help someone always go and do that. Because that’s what is the Karma