Why diamonds are Sonam's best friends!

Sonam Kapoor has been appointed the face of India International Jewellery Week (IIJW) to be held from July 31-August 4 in Mumbai. The actor in conversation with Sreya Basu.

Sonam is Bollywood's undisputed queen bee when it comes to fashion and now she's in the mood to shine a little more as the ambassador of India International Jewellery Week (IIJW). Here, she tells us why she took up the offer, why she envies her mother's jewels and more.

While other actors endorse jewellery, you are promoting a jewellery week. How did you make your pick?

Because jewellery is beautiful, it's an art and an investment, and something that I wear. Jewellery will always hold a special place in a woman's heart. So, what better product to endorse than jewellery! The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) through IIJW is providing a perfect platform for not only established designers and brands in the jewellery business but also encourages young budding talent. As the face of IIJW, I will be wearing their jewellery and it will be my responsibility to promote them.

On the day of your wedding, what kind of jewellery will you like to wear?

(Laughs aloud) I don't know. It will depend on what I am going to wear. I will definitely be traditionally garbed. So hopefully, my jewellery will be traditional with classy designs. I've always dreamed of wearing a beautiful maang tikka. So that will be one of the chief adornments on my body on my wedding day. And before you ask if it will come from my in-laws or my father, let me clarify, I will buy my own jewellery. Being a feminist, I think that's the best way forward.

Have your father (actor Anil Kapoor) ever gifted you any jewellery?

No. I have never been presented any kind of jewellery by my father so far. I have always bought jewellery for myself. Obviously, there's my mother's jewellery...very, very beautiful and tempting pieces. Hopefully, she will hand it down to me eventually.

Compared to your contemporaries, do you think you are doing enough films and endorsements?

I think I am doing enough for myself. I don't want to compete with other actors and bother myself. It's better to concentrate on a few projects, but do quality work rather than doing too many. Whether I am endorsing GJEPC or other products, I have always chosen the best. The same goes for films.

Don't you want to be the face of Bollywood?

Sure. Hopefully one day I will. That will be great, right? It will be great to be the brand ambassador of something I love so passionately.

You are considered among Bollywood's best-dressed actresses. But, who, according to you, is the most fashionable in the Indian film industry?

Karishma Kapoor is very, very fashionable; and so is Twinkle Khanna.

Shahid Kapoor has always been romantically involved with whichever actress he works with. Now you are shooting Mausam with him. So should we expect some flames?

Fortunately, no such things happened with me. But really, I don't know how to respond to your question. I am very fond of Shahid -- he is a very dear friend and a great co-star. So whichever girl ends up with him will be a very lucky woman because he is a nice guy.

Post Slumdog Millionaire, Anil Kapoor seems to have shifted to Hollywood, accepting mostly international offers. Will we see you in Hollywood in the near future?

It depends. I have always maintained that it doesn't matter in which language a film is being made. It depends on the role that I am offered, the director and the story. As it is, the world has become so small today that there are no gaps between Bollywood and Hollywood. Everybody is just working with each other...there is no discrimination between Indian or international films now.

You recently walked the red carpet at Cannes. What was the experience like?

It was incredible. I had a great time. It was a big party and I loved it.