Actress Sonakshi Sinha, though just a movie old, has managed to establish herself as one of the top actresses in Bollywood. Sonakshi, who made her debut opposite Salman Khan in movie ‘Dabangg’, has four big movies opposite four big stars releasing this year.
“I feel fortunate that the Hindi film industry has accepted me in a big way. But I don’t think of reaching some predetermined goal; I like to live in the moment. I am feeling excited and positive right now. It was a big day when Dabangg released, nothing was certain and I didn’t know what to expect. Now, I am experiencing the same feeling that I had before Dabangg,” said Sonakshi Sinha in an interview with MidDay.
Her next release is ‘Rowdy Rathore’ with Akshay Kumar, which is releasing 18 months after her debut movie. But the actress said that in the last 18 months she was anything but free.
“I was not sitting at home. I was busy. I was performing at award functions and also did some shows. I did interviews and photo shoots for magazines. I never felt out of the industry,” she said.
Even though the actress has 4 movies in line, 3 of the movies ‘Rowdy Rathore’, ‘Joker’ and ‘Son of Sardar’ are all male oriented movies. But the actress doesn’t have any qualms about that.
“I don’t think these films will help me grab awards. But that is not the criteria when I sign a film — I have to like the character. I am trying to portray different roles but I am still new and there is a lot of time for me to explore different genres of cinema,” she said.
The actress thinks that ‘Lootera’ is the movie in which her full caliber can be seen.
“'Lootera' is the most challenging film I am working on right now. It’s a love story and director Vikramaditya Motwane (of Udaan fame) has given us great roles. I play a Bengali girl. Vikramaditya is true to his art and drives us to perform. I am just waiting for the movie to release to know whether I have got my character right. Unfortunately, 'Lootera' has got delayed due to several reasons — firstly it was the weather and then Ranveer got injured,” she said.
Many from the industry and the audience are of an opinion that Sonakshi Sinha is apt for the role and she is the only actress currently whose looks are similar to that of yester years.
“I take it as a big compliment if people feel that I look like I belong to an earlier era. This is what gets me certain roles and that’s how I bagged 'Dabangg' too. 'Lootera' is a period film so you have to learn to be the character and that’s an art. I think I have managed to learn many things with this film,” the actress said.
Rumors about her and Ranveer Singh dating each other have been doing rounds for quite sometime now. But the actress denies any such thing.
“No. We don’t hang out. We share a professional relationship. We meet on the sets, work well and that’s it,” she said.
Unfortunately though the actress has been stuck with desi girl image.
“That is fine with me. I play a small-town girl from Patna in 'Rowdy Rathore'. What’s wrong with that? In all my movies the Indian girl is portrayed differently. I am happy to play such characters,” said Sonakshi.
“I play an NRI girl in Joker, a Bengali in 'Lootera', a Sardarni in 'Son Of Sardar' and you have seen my look in 'Dabangg 2'. Each look is very special and different. I am not missing out on anything. I am comfortable with what works. There is a certain samiksha (limit) that people see me within; and I am okay with that. I don’t think it will affect my opportunities,” she added.
Actress, whose next release is ‘Rowdy Rathore’ directed by Prabhu Deva said that she found it difficult to dance to ace choreographer’s steps.
“I love to dance and Prabhu Deva is an icon. Akshay and I have a lot of dancing in 'Rowdy Rathore'; and certain steps were very difficult. Actually, there is a song choreographed by Saroj Khan, which will be something worth checking out,” she said.
Even though the actress has managed to make a name for her and move away from Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter, she said she will always be her father’s daughter.
“I have got my share of appreciation after Dabangg and I hope it grows. But I will always be Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter, no matter how big I become or old I get,” she concluded.