Sonam Kapoor wasn’t always glamorous and in shape — she was actually quite a chubby girl while growing up. But being actor Anil Kapoor’s daughter, she knew acting was in her genes and it wouldn’t be long before she would enter the industry. And to be a part of Bollywood, a girl needs to be fit, attractive, well-dressed and well, not plump. It was then that her journey to shed those pounds began and today, she is one of the hottest actors in the Indian film industry. Now, this is determination!
Being a celebrity, however, is not all about the glitz and glam. Like everything else, it also comes with a price: being under the constant glare of the paparazzi and media and of course, the odd work hours. But this doesn’t come in the way of Sonam’s first love — her career. She loves what she does.
“I like everything about stardom. I don’t mind being in the public eye. If anyone tells you that they want to be a film actor but they don’t want to be a star, then that means they are lying,” she said. “I love acting. I love the fact that people like both my work and me. I am not pretentious enough to say that I cannot stand the attention.”
The 27-year-old, who was seen in Aisha and I Hate Luv Stories, will be next seen in Aanand L Rai’s Raanjhanaa as well as Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and YRF’s untitled film. Sonam will also be seen in the remake of 1980 film Khubsoorat that was directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and starred Rekha and Rakesh Roshan in the lead roles.
“I love being in front of the camera and I love creating new things. Can you imagine a girl from Juhu playing a girl from Chandni Chowk or a girl from Banaras or a girl from Defence Colony. It is amazing to be able to play different people,” said Sonam, who has also starred in films such as Delhi-6 and Players, about why she loves the industry.
Despite everything, Sonam admits the job is a challenging one. “Actors are not as bad as people think they are in the industry. We work very hard and at very odd hours. It is not only emotional, it also has physical and mental work,” she said.
Veteran actors Rekha, Nutan and Waheeda Rehman inspire this young actor deeply. “I did meet Rekha and she was like ‘It is amazing that you are doing the re-make [of Khubsoorat]’”, she continued. “There are three or four heroines I am obsessed with. Waheeda Rehman, Nutan, Rekha, Jaya Bachchan and Sridevi. I copy them all the time.”
The actor said she would also love to be a part of other re-makes such as Guide, Saraswatichandra and Umrao Jaan. “I would love to do a re-make of Guide of Waheeda ji and Saraswatichandra of Nutan. I am a part of Khubsoorat and I would love to do Umrao Jaan as well,” she admitted. “I have completely copied Waheeda ji’s performance in Guide in my film Raanjhanaa.”
In Sonam’s view, the trend of re-makes is good. “I think every generation has a way of doing a story. I don’t think there is anything wrong with re-makes,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2013.
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