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Sonam: I don't have the body to wear a bikini

I met Sonam Kapoor and her father Anil Kapoor on separate occasions, but within a fortnight of each other.

Anil Kapoor was enthusiastic and bubbly, as he posed with Tom Cruise at the premiere of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. He was friendly, and even sang a song in tribute to the legendary Dev Anand, who had passed away a day before.

Later, I met Sonam at a Mumbai hotel for an interview about her upcoming film, Players. I hadn't heard the best of her, thanks to an interview she had done my colleague. Maybe, I thought to myself, that was just a bad day; today would be better!

When I entered the room, Sonam was busy giving interviews.

When my turn arrived, the actress appeared cordial. She talked about Players, and the middle finger controversy that she had landed in (watch the video alongside for details).

But Ranbir Kapoor was clearly still a touchy topic. As soon as I mentioned his name in a question, her mood changed. She threatened to pull the tape out of the camera. Then, she stormed out of the room without completing the interview.

Really now, Sonam.

The next day, I was scheduled to meet her again for a interview at her residence. This time, along with a group of journalists.

Ranbir did not crop up again, and the interview went smoothly.

Okay, so now we know what NOT to ask Sonam. Meanwhile, click next to read what she did answer.

'I love doing my own stunts'

You are known to be an adrenaline junkie. Did you enjoy performing the stunts in Players?

I didn't perform all my stunts in the film. There are body doubles used because these days there are a lot of insurance problems. Movies have become a professional business. The insurance companies do not allow us to perform our own stunts but we do perform the close up scenes.

I love doing my own stunts. It's fun. Like my mother says, when you are young and invincible you like to do scary and stupid things. 

Your character in the film is that of an ethical hacker. Have you hacked anyone's account or has your own account been hacked any time?

It is really easy to hack e-mail accounts. People keep their pet's name or their boyfriend's name as password, which is really stupid.

Luckily, my password has never been hacked because I am smart and don't keep stupid passwords (Laughs).

'Showing the middle finger is a part of today's youth'

Several films run into controversy these days, and your middle finger act in the movie trailer hit the headlines recently. Do you think the Censor Board is too strict?

I don't believe in censorship so whether they like it or not, I really don't care about it. I just want people to come and see my film.

Showing a middle finger is a part of today's youth. After all, freedom of expression and speech is a basic right.

We also abuse when we have a normal conversation with our friends. I used to do that even in college if a guy would bother me.

Showing a middle finger is better than what we read in the national dailies because what is happening around the world is worse than that. There are worse things that are available on the internet, why isn't there are any censorship of them?

Your character is like a bad-ass girl. Are you taking further the ongoing trend of being bold and bindaas?

I don't think it's a trend that I have followed. In my personal life, I have always been bold. From the clothes I wear and how I speak... for me, bold doesn't necessarily mean stripping.

I guess people have a wrong notion about being bold. For me, bold is being different. I dress differently and so people have started talking about it. I have also been bold with my choice of characters.

'I think a person can look hot and amazing wearing normal clothes'

Do you set any limits on how bold the scene can be? Apparently, you refused to wear a bikini in the film.

Bipasha was already wearing a bikini in the film so I don't think it was necessary for me to wear a bikini. I don't have the body for it. I don't look like Bipasha or Deepika Padukone or Anushka Sharma. I am not thin and have cellulite and big arms.

I have worked very hard to reduce my weight. If a film requires it, I am open to it, but right now I want to enjoy my time and not restrain myself from indulging in food and living my normal life. I am not confident of my body right now, but when I am, I will surely wear a bikini.

So are you saying you have inhibitions about doing certain things on celluloid?

Some people work hard on their body, become size zero to wear a bikini, and on the other hand, we have the example of Vidya Balan who is looking so hot despite putting on weight and she has done it to be in character and not because she wants to look glamorous.

I think a person can look hot and amazing wearing normal clothes. I've got an incredible response to my look in Players, but I am not wearing revealing clothes.

'I have never been criticised'

You are known as a fashionista rather than an actress. Does that bother you?

I did Aisha which made such an impact that people started thinking that I am all about fashion, which is not true. I have done films like Saawariya, Delhi-6 and Mausam which saw me in de-glam roles and had nothing do with fashion or clothes.

I'd rather be known for my fashion and as a fashion icon, than for my affairs, or having catfights and playing games, or as someone who is sleeping around to get to the top.

Mausam didn't do well at the box office; were you disappointed?

I got some good reviews for it and am never disappointed. It's for my producers to be disappointed.

How would you take criticism?

I don't know -- I have never been criticised.

'People treat me with respect because I am Anil Kapoor's daughter'

Your father, Anil Kapoor, said that Ben Stiller offered you a role and that you also got another offer in a Julia Roberts film, but you refused. Why?

I had already committed to and signed Raykesh Mehra and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's films at that time and for me these films were more important than those offers that I got.

Your father also mentioned that some girls are jealous of you....

There were a couple of actresses who said we wear simple clothes because we are not spoilt and don't have a rich father, and it was obvious that they were taking a dig at me.

I am comfortable being who I am and I love buying clothes which I do for myself. I also came to know that the same actresses hired some big designers for themselves which shows what hypocrites they are. Instead of keeping it to himself, my father told the media. Sometimes he forgets that he himself is an actor (Smiles).

Do you want to be disassociated from your father's success?

No, I am proud of him. It is unfair to my father's hard work to say it has nothing to do with me. I am here because of my father. People treat me with respect because I am Anil Kapoor's daughter. He has been in the industry for 30 years and he has worked for his children and if we don't bear the fruits of his hard work then who will?

On the other hand, my father always says that there are lots of star kids who have come and gone, and if you have stayed on and are among the top 10, then the credit goes to me too.

'Acting is not my life'

How do you react to reports that you got a role in a particular movie because of your father?

I am sure the other star kids must be doing the same thing. I think the directors are smart and they cast me because of the way my father has worked and they expect the same kind of ethics in my work.

Just six films in four years. Are you selective about your films?

No. The kind of films I do have taken up a lot of time. Also, I am not one of those actors who say that acting is my life. Acting is not my life, it's my job. I have friends and family and I like to travel and take time out for myself. I don't want to make movies my life as I want to be a normal person.