How Sonam discovered the actress in her

How Sonam Kapoor discovered the actress in self
05th Nov 2007 20.55 IST
By Aparajita Ghosh

Despite being the daughter of a successful actor, Sonam Kapoor never gave a serious thought to acting.

Just a few years back, Sonam would not have imagined that she would be an actress someday.

As a teenager she was interested in cinema and theatre. And when she went to study at United World College in Singapore, she was more interested in art direction.

Another passion of hers was, and is, dancing. She began learning Kathak since she was six and we recently saw how good she is at shaking her leg when she danced with Ranbir Kapoor on Jhalak Dikhlaja.

It wasn't until she went to work as an assistant director under Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Black that Sonam first thought of becoming an actress. It was the master filmmaker himself who planted the seed in her brain.

On the very first day of her job in 'Black', Bhansali looked at her and said: "You're an actress". That remark made Sonam give a serious thought to acting.

Later, when Bhansali told her he wanted her to be the female lead in Saawariya , Sonam could hardly believe it. Back then, she was a plump girl and weighed around 85 kg. But a film offer from Bhansali was impossible to resist.

After discussing with her parents – Anil Kapoor and wife Sunita – Sonam took the decision. For many months she worked hard and groomed herself to be an actress.

As for emoting her scenes, Sonam says she learned a great deal while working in the film. With the guidance of Bhansali, and her father, Sonam did not take long to become adept at the art of emoting.

No doubt, she has inherited acting genes from her father.