Sonakshi Sinha: My father is always in awe of my performance

Sonakshi Sinha prefers doing masala movies, and is quite unapologetic about it.

Her latest film Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Dobaara opened to mixed response on August 15 but the 26-year-old actress states that she will continue to work in such films, as they give her box office success.

Occasionally, though, she does a different kind of film like Lootera, which won her a lot of critical acclaim.

Sonakshi talks to Sonil Dedhia about her movies, and why she won’t allow her family name to be dragged into any controversies.

You have stuck to the same kind of roles, the exception being Lootera, which earned you critical acclaim. Did you just want to play it safe before?

Lootera was my sixth film but I had signed it quite early in my career. Being a period drama, the film took a while to make. I did not sign the film to change my image.

I have always been unapologetic about the kind of films I have done. I love masala entertainers and will continue to work in them as these films have always got me a lot of box office success.

As you rightly pointed out, Lootera has got me critical acclaim. So now the plan is to balance the two. If I do four commercial films, then I will do one film like Lootera.

Don’t you fear being stereotyped?

I haven’t been stereotyped and that is the beauty of it. I enjoy watching masala entertainers and that is why I do them.

I am not a competitive person and have always done things on my own terms and conditions. Anyway, today every actress wants to be a part of commercial films.

So were you proving a point with Lootera?

I don’t do films to prove anything to anyone. I did Lootera because I felt it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. A lot of people said that I won’t be able to do it and so I took it up as a challenge to prove them wrong.

I think my acting has always been appreciated.

It’s much easier for an actress to do a masala entertainer because there’s limited work for the actress.

No, I don’t agree. It is more challenging to make a masala entertainer because they are larger than life. It is not something that happens in real life. There are roles written in masala films for actresses otherwise the films would have been made with actors only.  

On the other hand, a film like Lootera has a real setting and the dialogues are colloquial, something that we use in our daily conversation. Whereas in masala films, the dialogues are larger than life; it is unnatural. To do something like that is challenging and a lot of fun.

Was it a conscious decision to start working with younger actors like Ranveer Singh and Imran Khan?

I don’t think of my co-stars’ age when I sign a film. It doesn’t really matter to me. I know working with established and senior actors came too early in my career.

Any newcomer would be thrilled to work with the superstars.  I have learnt a lot from Akshay Kumar.

You have always been vocal about the fact that you come from a protective family.  A press release said your mother was around when the lovemaking scenes were shot for Lootera…

(Interrupts) My mother wasn’t there. Yes, she often drops by on the sets of all my films with my food. I clarified this earlier that it was a publicity stunt to grab eyeballs for a particular scene in the film, which I wasn’t aware of.

My parents have given me enough freedom to do the kind of roles I would like to do. They trust me entirely and know that I won’t do anything that will offend them. 

You say you were not aware about this press release. Hasn’t this kind of publicity marred your image?

I discussed this issue with whoever I had to. I am fine when people say anything about me but when my family’s name gets dragged in, I will take a strong stand. I will not let it pass.

Do your parents give you feedback about your acting?

My mother is an honest critic. She will tell me very frankly what she liked or disliked about my performance.

My father is always in awe of my performance. He always tells me that if you can't be the best, just be different.