Sonakshi admires Kareena and Hrithik

She is the fresh new face that has everyone excited. Sonakshi Sinha, the daughter of Shatrughan was in Bengaluru to promote her eagerly awaited film, Dabangg. While this was her first time here as an actress, she is a regular in Bengaluru and is keen to sing the city's praises, "I have friends here so I enjoy visiting," she says. She adds, "The city is much cleaner than Mumbai. The weather is also much more pleasant."

Here to promote Dabangg, Sonakshi recalls her first day on set fondly. "I wasn't really nervous about being in front of the camera," she says. "Salman and Arbaaz had talked me through the process and I found I actually enjoyed it."

But while she is winning praise for her performance, Sonakshi says she never intended to be an actress, "I studied fashion design so acting happened by pure coincidence." She goes on to add, "Salman spotted me at a wedding in Indian gear and thought I would be perfect as Rajo. Arbaaz and he approached me with the script and the rest, as they say, is history."

She says that she was drawn to her character because, "she is not your average run-of-the-mill heroine. I liked that she was dignified and fearless." She also challenges the notion that she has gone 'de-glam' in her first role, "Who says you have to wear western to be glam? I think I look very glamorous in some of the song sequences."

Although she is hesitant to give away her future plans, she is open about who she admires in Bollywood. "Kareena Kapoor's career graph shows her consistent growth as an actress. I identify with her because we both grew up in the industry and started our careers at a young age." Among her male co-stars, her choice is Hrithik Roshan. "I remember when his first film came out and I was still in school. I was completely in awe of him."

Although she wants to carve out her own niche in the industry, her family is never far from her thoughts. She states the advice her famous father gave her before starting out, "If you can't be the best, then be different.' She says that he is also not interfering. "He didn't visit me till the last day on set." She signs off with, "I have my family's support so I am ready to conquer Bollywood."