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The Dolly Ki Doli actress talks about how it is not important for her to be in the 100 crore club, how she respects Deepika as a colleague and how she has no desire to just work with the Khans
Looking pretty as a peach in an off-shoulder dress, Sonam Kapoor is all charged up to take on the world with her upcoming film Dolly Ki Doli. The actress has had a good run at the box office with Raanjhanaa, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Khoobsurat.
Raanjhanaa became the first of her films to reach the '100 crore mark followed by Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Sonam considers Raanjhanaa to be the turning point in her career as people started taking her seriously after that. But no, being a '100 crore heroine is not what the leggy actress is aiming for. She would rather do a small budget film that romps home comfortably. The bottom line, as she says, is the film should make profits.
And having a home production, Sonam can rattle off figures easily to make her point. Over to the spunky actress who tells it like it is...
You've worn bridal outfits in a couple of films earlier, but this film revolves around you as a bride. Does it feel surreal?
No, it's a role. I have changed eight bridal outfits in a day for Dolly Ki Doli! Eventually, they are all costumes and I play a fake bride, a con bride (smiles). It's not like I am actually getting married! I think it's only when you are really getting married that you feel stressed.
How much of Sonam is there in Dolly?
I am not from North India and I am not conning people! But the one thing similar to Sonam and Dolly is both of them are unapologetically themselves. They are not afraid of being who they are.
How was it working with Rajkummar Rao and the relative newcomers Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma?
Pulkit is the kind who pampers you a lot. He will force you to cheat on your diet chart with this wonderful platter of food laid on his table. He won't leave you until you try them. He's got me those chocolate candies which I love. He's a very chilled out guy. Varun is like a kid. He is my brother's age. So, I mostly feel like pulling his cheeks. Rajkummar is very intense and a little more serious than these two. But he's an immensely talented actor.
You have a great sense of humour, would you be a part of AIB's Roast?
I am sorry, I have never heard of it. I have been working, and not been in town. I have to see it to comment on it. As for being a part of it, it depends on how intelligently it is done.
You are hailed as a fashionista. Does it take away from you as a performer?
I don't think so. On the contrary, it just adds to my image. Especially after I give good performances and when people appreciate my work, like after Raanjhanaa, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Khoobsurat.
You were quoted saying that you will never publicize it if you start doing social service. It was reportedly a dig at Deepika Padukone who tweeted that she will be supporting the cause of mental health awareness in 2015..
I never said that.
What is your equation with Deepika?
Deepika is a colleague who I respect a lot.
Though you have briefly worked with Salman Khan in Saawariya, you are now cast as the romantic lead opposite him in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. Do you consider working with the Khan trio a benchmark?
For me the benchmark would be doing any film which is made by an amazing director with amazing co-stars. A Sooraj Barjatya film opposite Salman Khan is definitely a high point in my life.
What kind of roles are you looking at?
I have consciously decided to choose roles that do not have me as a pretty face dancing in four songs without any meat in it. I would rather do meaningful roles. The length does not matter. I had a 25-minute role in Delhi 6, but still Bittoo's character had a huge impact in the film. I want to try out different genres. Let's see how it shapes up.
How important is the '100-crore mark to you?
Raanjhanaa had Dhanush and me in it. The budget of the film was different from Khoobsurat. The number of screens it released was much higher. Khoobsurat released in 900 screens as opposed to 3000 screens. So, even if it went houseful for three weeks, it would only make so much as opposed to if it would have released in 5000 screens. It is mathematics. How much you spend on a film also counts. Raanjhanaa was a '35 crore film, Khoobsurat was a '12 crore film. Ranjhanaa is a multiplex film as well as a single screen film. Khoobsurat is only a multiplex film for youth. Dolly Ki Doli is a little different from Khoobsurat because maybe we are releasing it in 200 more screens. It has got a different audience appeal. So technically, it's not whether you make '100 crore or '20 crore with your film, the bottom line is whether your film manages to make huge profits. It does not matter to me as long as it's a hit film.
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