Sonakshi Sinha is back with a bang in her latest offering lootera where she romances actor Ranveer Singh. Not upset about reports linking her and her co-star, Sinha says she is here to perform and not to look her best. Shibaji Roychoudhury chats her up
You are playing a Bengali girl from the 50s. What kind of research did you go throughIJ
In lootera, I play Pakhi who is a zamindar’s daughter in a Manikpur village. For the role, I have watched a lot of movies from that era to understand what kind of energy I was required to put in. We are vastly different from people in the 1950s. They didn’t grow up with computers, mobile phones, multiplexes, shopping malls or lived in such cramped urban environment. Hence, they are sociologically and anthropologically different from us.
I have been told before that I have Bengali features, so that should work in my favour.
You have mostly been paired with senior actors but this is your first with Ranveer...
He is a talented actor. He might seem to be a very happy-go-lucky person, and he is, but when it comes to work he is extremely hard working, focused and a method actor. He knows exactly what the director is expecting out of him in a scene and he does it flawlessly. I admire that quality about him. I have had a blast working with Ranveer. He is quite a pranksters on and off the sets!
There were rumours of you two being romantically involved...
(laughs) I must admit, I was awestruck by Ranveer when I watched Band Baja Baaraat for the first time. And I went on and on about it so much so that everybody thought that something was going on between us. There were a lot of reports suggesting that daal mein kuch kaala hai. I am hoping that these reports continue to come for the next couple of weeks. That will just ensure footfall at the cinema halls. On a serious note, I feel we have an excellent chemistry.
You were asked to put on weight for this film...
No, nothing of that sort. Suddenly everybody is too concerned about my weight. I am an old fashioned actor. My vision is more towards playing my character right as opposed to looking sleek and lean with skimpy outfits.
We have forgotten that acting and modelling are two different professions. A size-zero body was always a thing among models and not required for an actor. Madhubalaji and Waheeda Rehmanji never needed to lose weight to wear halters. They were magnificent on screen despite being bulky. I come from that school of thought. I am here to be a hero, not size zero.
How nervous are you about this filmIJ
I am not nervous at all, rather, I am quite excited and hopeful about lootera. I consider myself lucky that I got to work with such a talented director. Pakhi is probably the toughest role I have played so far in my relatively young career. We have worked really hard for this one. I am hoping that the audience feels our story and reacts the same way as I did when I first saw it.
You usually refuse to do raunchy love-making scenes. What made you change your mind for this oneIJ
The love making scene between Ranveer and me isn’t raunchy at all. It is simple, cute and passionate at the same time. I don’t believe in unnecessary love making sequences that don’t have anything to do with the storyline but are there to add sex appeal to the film. In lootera, the love-making scene brings in a twist in the tale so it is of immense relevance to the film and the storyline.