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Films are her Birthright! 
Actress Sonam Kapoor. Sampurn Pics She has acted in only two films so far, in a fledgling career that began in 2007 with Saawariya. In 2009, Sonam Kapoor followed it up with Delhi 6. Actor-producer Anil Kapoor's daughter is now 24 and could easily be crowned the face of 2009 — she's been on every magazine cover, piled on key endorsements and has two plum projects on the anvil.
We know many things about Sonam — like the fact that she started off as an assistant director to Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Black, like how she lost 30 kg from the 90 kg she was carrying when she decided to take up acting. Some may know that she studied at the United World College (UWC) in Singapore, went to college in Mumbai, is an avid reader and dreams of opening a book club or a small library. The eldest of three children, her favourite films are Devdas, Black, Mr India, Pather Panchali, Bandhini, all Raj Kapoor productions and romantic movies. She's currently immersed in workshops and preparations for her film Aisha, based on Jane Austen's novel Emma. More from the lovely lass.
Your next film is an adaptation of Emma. Tell us something more about it.
I love Jane Austen's novels. I was chatting with a friend about how Austen's novels like Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Emma would make great women-centric films. Emma was Austen's favourite book and heroine and she is the most realistic character that she wrote.
Coincidentally, and soon after, I heard from a girl who went to UWC who said she had a script and wanted to talk to me for the part of Aisha. The film may be called Aisha, but it is a love story between two people that's set in Delhi. It is being produced by Anil Kapoor Productions, directed by Rajshree Ojha (who earlier made Chaurahen and Badger), co-stars Abhay Deol and the crew has members from four countries.
Though you received praise for both your films, Saawariya and Delhi 6 met with lukewarm response from the critics and audiences.
How did that make you feel?
Yes, there was uniformity of opinion on my work and both films were big budget and recovered their money. Reviews for Delhi 6 swung from two to five stars — reactions were that diverse. Of course, it affects you but not as much as it may affect someone else because I was brought up in the film industry.
Movies have been our family business so I understand how it business functions. And then look at my dad — he had Race, Welcome, Slumdog Millionaire and Yuvraaj in the same year. All four films received different reactions for different reasons. But dad never got a bad review. You just have to work hard and leave the rest to destiny.
What advice of your father Anil Kapoor that you try to abide by?
He told me not to surround myself with sycophants, to listen if someone is expressing a thought, opinion or point of view and to be a director's actor. My family — parents, brother and sister, and friends from school keep me grounded.
Is acting everything you thought it would be?
I was a total snob before, especially when it came to acting, and particularly when it came to female actors. I would watch movies and wonder 'What are they doing'. I never realised how much pressure, thought and effort goes into the job. Different art forms have different tools. The director uses film to create; actors use their bodies. I appreciate that now and love what I do. I cannot imagine doing anything else — I cannot do anything else.
But are the roles for women different now?
My dad, as an example of male actors, has essayed a variety of roles right from Slumdog Millionaire, Lamhe and Eeshwar to No Entry and Virasat. This range is not available for women. But things are changing now with filmmakers like Dibaker Banerjee, Rakeysh Mehra, Bhansali, Anurag Kashyap and Sriram Raghavan.
Which Indian actors do you admire besides your father?
Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan — all the people I grew up watching. Of the younger lot, I like Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Hrithik Roshan and I love Abhay's work. I watch every film. Shabana Azmi once told me that there is a point when every actor opens up. Though I am not so observant of what I am doing on screen, I think for Priyanka that point was Aitraaz, Kareena opened up in her first film itself and Katrina found her point in Namastey London.
People often remark about your versatility and chameleon-like looks. How do you react to such comments?
Yes, I have heard that too from directors and friends. I am an actor, so I should be like a chameleon — versatile. I love experimenting and have been a bit of a rebel in the past.
What else are you working on?
There is a Dharma Productions film directed by Punit Malhotra tentatively titled I Hate Love Stories. It's a cute date film with Imran Khan. This is the first time I am shooting two films simultaneously and I am finding it close to impossible to shunt from one to the other. I prefer to do one thing at a time, but due to some delays, I am doing three things at once. But I love working — it's the best job I could have got.
What sense of responsibility do you feel as a new age role model?
Young girls are my biggest appreciators. Most of my fans are in Pakistan and Dubai. And they are all women! They look up to certain things I do.
When you are a public figure with certain influence, you do have a responsibility to behave in a particular way because things you say and do might affect other peoples' lives.
And finally, how does success feel?
I have no idea! I am just having fun being myself.
Life is the same except that I work more and am more responsible. I live in Mumbai where there are bigger stars than me around so I have not had to change my routine at all. But there is only one truth — change is the only constant. People, stories, generations will change and so will the scope for work. There were amazing films before and I feel there will be another Bimal Roy, Vijay Anand, Raj Kapoor and Satyajit Ray — they just need to bloom. And 10 years from now we will probably look back and they will be there in posterity.
Udita Jhunjhunwala
First Published : 07 Aug 2009 12:04:14 PM IST
Last Updated : 07 Aug 2009 12:11:06 PM IST
First Published : 07 Aug 2009 12:04:14 PM IST
Last Updated : 07 Aug 2009 12:11:06 PM IST
Actress Sonam Kapoor. Sampurn Pics She has acted in only two films so far, in a fledgling career that began in 2007 with Saawariya. In 2009, Sonam Kapoor followed it up with Delhi 6. Actor-producer Anil Kapoor's daughter is now 24 and could easily be crowned the face of 2009 — she's been on every magazine cover, piled on key endorsements and has two plum projects on the anvil.
We know many things about Sonam — like the fact that she started off as an assistant director to Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Black, like how she lost 30 kg from the 90 kg she was carrying when she decided to take up acting. Some may know that she studied at the United World College (UWC) in Singapore, went to college in Mumbai, is an avid reader and dreams of opening a book club or a small library. The eldest of three children, her favourite films are Devdas, Black, Mr India, Pather Panchali, Bandhini, all Raj Kapoor productions and romantic movies. She's currently immersed in workshops and preparations for her film Aisha, based on Jane Austen's novel Emma. More from the lovely lass.
Your next film is an adaptation of Emma. Tell us something more about it.
I love Jane Austen's novels. I was chatting with a friend about how Austen's novels like Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Emma would make great women-centric films. Emma was Austen's favourite book and heroine and she is the most realistic character that she wrote.
Coincidentally, and soon after, I heard from a girl who went to UWC who said she had a script and wanted to talk to me for the part of Aisha. The film may be called Aisha, but it is a love story between two people that's set in Delhi. It is being produced by Anil Kapoor Productions, directed by Rajshree Ojha (who earlier made Chaurahen and Badger), co-stars Abhay Deol and the crew has members from four countries.
Though you received praise for both your films, Saawariya and Delhi 6 met with lukewarm response from the critics and audiences.
How did that make you feel?
Yes, there was uniformity of opinion on my work and both films were big budget and recovered their money. Reviews for Delhi 6 swung from two to five stars — reactions were that diverse. Of course, it affects you but not as much as it may affect someone else because I was brought up in the film industry.
Movies have been our family business so I understand how it business functions. And then look at my dad — he had Race, Welcome, Slumdog Millionaire and Yuvraaj in the same year. All four films received different reactions for different reasons. But dad never got a bad review. You just have to work hard and leave the rest to destiny.
What advice of your father Anil Kapoor that you try to abide by?
He told me not to surround myself with sycophants, to listen if someone is expressing a thought, opinion or point of view and to be a director's actor. My family — parents, brother and sister, and friends from school keep me grounded.
Is acting everything you thought it would be?
I was a total snob before, especially when it came to acting, and particularly when it came to female actors. I would watch movies and wonder 'What are they doing'. I never realised how much pressure, thought and effort goes into the job. Different art forms have different tools. The director uses film to create; actors use their bodies. I appreciate that now and love what I do. I cannot imagine doing anything else — I cannot do anything else.
But are the roles for women different now?
My dad, as an example of male actors, has essayed a variety of roles right from Slumdog Millionaire, Lamhe and Eeshwar to No Entry and Virasat. This range is not available for women. But things are changing now with filmmakers like Dibaker Banerjee, Rakeysh Mehra, Bhansali, Anurag Kashyap and Sriram Raghavan.
Which Indian actors do you admire besides your father?
Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan — all the people I grew up watching. Of the younger lot, I like Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Hrithik Roshan and I love Abhay's work. I watch every film. Shabana Azmi once told me that there is a point when every actor opens up. Though I am not so observant of what I am doing on screen, I think for Priyanka that point was Aitraaz, Kareena opened up in her first film itself and Katrina found her point in Namastey London.
People often remark about your versatility and chameleon-like looks. How do you react to such comments?
Yes, I have heard that too from directors and friends. I am an actor, so I should be like a chameleon — versatile. I love experimenting and have been a bit of a rebel in the past.
What else are you working on?
There is a Dharma Productions film directed by Punit Malhotra tentatively titled I Hate Love Stories. It's a cute date film with Imran Khan. This is the first time I am shooting two films simultaneously and I am finding it close to impossible to shunt from one to the other. I prefer to do one thing at a time, but due to some delays, I am doing three things at once. But I love working — it's the best job I could have got.
What sense of responsibility do you feel as a new age role model?
Young girls are my biggest appreciators. Most of my fans are in Pakistan and Dubai. And they are all women! They look up to certain things I do.
When you are a public figure with certain influence, you do have a responsibility to behave in a particular way because things you say and do might affect other peoples' lives.
And finally, how does success feel?
I have no idea! I am just having fun being myself.
Life is the same except that I work more and am more responsible. I live in Mumbai where there are bigger stars than me around so I have not had to change my routine at all. But there is only one truth — change is the only constant. People, stories, generations will change and so will the scope for work. There were amazing films before and I feel there will be another Bimal Roy, Vijay Anand, Raj Kapoor and Satyajit Ray — they just need to bloom. And 10 years from now we will probably look back and they will be there in posterity.
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