I'm second time lucky: Sonam Kapoor

Mumbai, Dec 10 (IANS) Although her debut vehicle 'Saawariya' slumped at the box office, lady luck is smiling on Sonam Kapoor. She has bagged Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 'Delhi 6'.

'I'm second time lucky. If I had to choose one filmmaker after Sanjay Leela Bhansali, I'd have chosen Rakeysh Mehra. I haven't seen his 'Aks', but I fell in love with 'Rang De Basanti'. I went beyond conventional definitions of the heroine in 'Saawariya'. I hope to do the same in 'Delhi 6'. It's a great follow up,' Sonam told IANS in an interview.

Asked about other offers, she said: 'They're all coming to my father. He's so proud of me. He keeps saying he never knew I could be such a capable actor and handle the media with dignity and grace.'

While her father is scanning all the offers, Sonam is concentrating on 'Delhi 6'.

'How can I think of anything else right now? I need to focus on my second film. I'm going into a different mood and style here.'

Excerpts:

Q: You are now doing Rakeysh Mehra's film 'Delhi 6'.

A: I'm second time lucky. If I had to choose one filmmaker after Sanjay Leela Bhansali, I'd have chosen Rakeysh Mehra. I haven't seen his 'Aks', but I fell in love with 'Rang De Basanti'. Loved every performance in it. I love his courage, integrity and idealism. I went beyond conventional definitions of the heroine in 'Saawariya'. I hope to do the same in 'Delhi 6'. It's a great follow-up. I couldn't have chosen a better second film. The minute I met Rakeysh Mehra I was completely floored. We connected very well. I sat with him for five hours.

Q: While your performance in 'Saawariya' has been lauded, some Mumbai critics have slammed the film?

A: Three of them. I'll remember their names forever (laughs).

Q: Does this low self worth come from your weight problem?

A: Oh, but I was overweight only for two years, not as a child. In school I was cool. I was never a limelight moth. I did like dancing, but never thought of myself as a Madhubala, Madhuri Dixit or Sridevi. It was Sanjay sir who made me feel beautiful from inside. I'm extremely grateful to god to get me such a complex role. To be a Sanjay Leela Bhansali heroine after Manisha Koirala, Madhuri, Aishwarya Rai and Rani Mukherjee - what more could I ask for?

Q: Some people say you got a raw deal in the plot.

A: I don't think so. In the second half all the meaty dialogues are mine. When Sanjay sir offered me the role he said it was complex and not author backed. But he had faith that I could carry off.

Q: What about a report that some of your crucial scenes have been cut in 'Saawariya'?

A: What utter nonsense! No crucial scene of mine has been cut. Just the usual editing that happens in every film. I don't know where this comes from. People are just creating friction through fiction. If this kind of loose talk gives some people a high, so be it. It doesn't affect my relationship with him.

Q: What other offers?

A: They're all coming to my father. He's so proud of me. He keeps saying he never knew I could be such a capable actor and handle the media with dignity and grace. He isn't too demonstrative. How can I think of anything else right now? I need to focus on my second film. I'm going into a different mood and style here.