Sonam: Wearing a bikini was a challenge for me

When I came into the industry, I just wore Indian clothes for the first two years.'

'Gradually, I started wearing western outfits. I still don’t wear short clothes as I am not completely confident about my body.'

Sonam Kapoor gets candid.

The promotion of Sonam Kapoor’s upcoming film Bewakoofiyaan has given the actress a migraine. Yet, she carries on.

She claims she's 'under the weather' but the actress looks gorgeous in her silver Dolce and Gabbana dress.

Binging on a sada dosa, Sonam evaluates her acting talent, talks about the challenges of a bikini onscreen, and admits she hasn’t watched father Anil Kapoor’s acclaimed television series 24 yet.

Sonil Dedhia listens in. 

You were criticised for being a fashionista in films like Aisha and Players, but the same thing has been appreciated in Bewakoofiyaan. Do you think that is because you have proved your mettle with Raanjhanaa and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag?

It will change again by my next film (laughs).

Seriously, by Delhi 6, I had earned my stripes. People had started calling me an actor.

Once Aisha and I Hate Luv Stories happened, people thought I was like my character. For me, this was my success.

It was post Aisha that people couldn’t connect with me in my films. Not many people watched Mausam.

I think when you look good, people don’t really look at your performance and just judge you by your appearance.

Bewakoofiyaan is an easy, romantic film and I hope people look at my performance in the film and not just my looks.

.

Does your choice of characters depend on how people will judge you in a particular role?

No, it doesn’t. I am not doing this for other people. It’s my job and I want to grow as an actor and do better work.

All my characters cannot be like Zoya (her character in Raanjhanaa). My next two films (Khoobsurat and Dolly Ki Dolly) are entertaining and have good performances.

Fortunately for me, hits and flops haven’t mattered. Maybe because people think I am talented.

In Bewakoofiyaan, your boyfriend (played by Ayushmann Khurrana) becomes jobless. Would you be fine if the same scenario happens with you in real life?

If I think my guy has the potential to do something in life and make it big, then I won’t be bothered about his bank balance, his religion, or anything else.

As long as he is a good guy and keeps me happy I am okay with it.

I am extremely idealistic and quite impractical, which is not the best thing to be, but it has stood me in good stead. I have always been a friend with my ex’s. I have got no baggage because of it.

Is there any advantage working with a female director? (Nupur Asthana has directed Bewakofiyaan)

The only advantage for me was that I was wearing a bikini in the film and I knew it would be aesthetically shot.

Honestly, there is no difference between a male and female director.

In the past I have worked with a female director who I didn’t get along with. It’s all about whether you are competent or not.

I don’t think there is any difference between men and women apart from maybe the emotional quotient.

Women are emotionally way more intelligent than men.

Director Nupur Asthana said that the focus on you wearing a bikini in the film is disappointing.

I think it’s funny. Nupur had given me options. She asked me whether I would like to wear a ‘burkhini’. I’m sure not many people have heard of that.

We also tried a ‘tankini’. We tried all possible options.

I told Nupur that I am an Indian girl who has big hips and small waist and I feel a two-piece bikini would look the best. So, finally, we agreed on that.

You had refused to wear a bikini in films at one point.

Yes, that was because I wasn't in the best shape possible.

I remember at Kalie Purie’s book launch I talked about the struggles of being overweight and how I lost weight and I wouldn’t wear a bikini because I had saggy bums.

Wearing a bikini was a challenge for me. I did this for myself.

I don’t know if anyone remembers that when I came into the industry I just wore Indian clothes for the first two years.

Gradually I started wearing western outfits. I still don’t wear short clothes as I am not completely confident about my body.

You are working with Rishi Kapoor who was earlier upset with you, over a comment you made on Koffee With Karan about Ranbir Kapoor. Did you have to try hard to break the ice with him?

No, not at all. You just have to feed him with good food and he is all yours! I would share my home cooked mutton with him.

Rishi Kapoor plays a possessive father in the film. How possessive is your father Anil Kapoor?

My father is not possessive about me at all. He is pretty chilled out.

He doesn’t think that I need to get married early. He believes that I should be happy and joyous and should enjoy whatever I do.

He knows how important my career is to me. He wants me to be successful and be a better actor and make great films.

He doesn’t give a lot of importance to my relationships.

Have you seen his television series 24?

I don’t watch television

I haven’t seen my dad’s television series 24. I cannot watch my dad’s work because I get too overwhelmed. I will catch up on DVD.

I wasn’t aware of Comedy Night With Kapil till recently, when I went on the show.