Check this out - Sonam Kapoor!

Text: Raja Sen | Photographs: L'Officiel Magazine

Bhansali changed that when she came aboard his last film, Black, as one of many Assistant Directors -- including her Saawariya co-star Ranbir. "The first day I came to work on the sets and sir looked at me and said, 'you're an actress.' So the seed was in my brain, and then I realised 'Hmm, I like what Amitji and Rani are doing in front of the camera, I'm a little more interested in that, maybe.'"

"See, I am obsessed with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's work. I find a lot of layers in it. I mean, Devdas is not just a commercial film. It has heightened emotions, and flawed characters in a beautiful setting. He does overdramatise everything, and that is to reach to the front-row audiences. But the back-row audiences also go through the layers. I love the layering he gives. Everything is beautifully thought out, beautifully synchronised."

There are all sorts of technically bizarre stories about the notoriously reclusive Bhansali, about how he worked for three days on the lighting of one set. Sonam, however, doesn't feel this obsession hampers the film. "He is the best director to work with, for any technician. He gives you the space and time you need. And if you're conscientious of the fact that he's giving you that, you try to do your best and do it as fast as you can and be respectful to the producer. I'm a producer's daughter also." Indeed.

Despite a tailormade role written specifically keeping her in mind, don't expect to see the effervescent Sonam playing herself on screen just yet. "The character is the complete opposite of me," she says, putting a finger to her lips when asked about the character. "You know I can't talk about it. I can just tell you that she is love. If anybody has to learn how to love they should learn from Sakina. I don't think anybody has that strength, especially in this day and age, to love like that. It's amazing."

And she also had big co-stars, didn't she? "Yeah, Hot Salman," she giggles. "He was amazing. I had the most fun working with him. Because he's so chilled out, and he gets the best food!" Yes, more uproarious laughter. "I was in awe of him 'cause I've been his fan. He and Shah Rukh are like my gods. I've gone for one or two holidays with Salman because he's really close to my dad. As an actress I kept thinking I was going to die, but he was so cool about it. And the amazing thing about Salman is that he treats everybody the same. He is such a cool dude; he's like a rockstar."

"I'm like a horse with blinkers, to put it really delicately," she smiles, almost coy. "I've been focusing so much on Saawariya that I don't know where the film ends and I begin. I need some space, don't you think?"