Just like the times when people used to love the acting of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, now people are in love with his daughter Sonakshi Sinha, the Dabangg girl. It’s been nine years now since when Sonakshi Sinha performed on the Bollywood scene with the first installment of Dabangg.
Sonakshi, the daughter of actor Poonam Sinha, may have begun her career as a costume designer. But, now entertaining us as one great actor.
We all know that her family friend and co-star Salman Khan gave her the first big break, but recently in an interview with Mumbai Mirror, she revealed that she had “no choice” but to do the film.
She said,
“Acting was never on the cards. One day, I was just told there was this film I was suited for and I was doing it. Nobody asked me, I literally had no choice.”
When asked that is there something she would have done differently in the first installment of the franchise, she said-
“There was a certain rawness and innocence… I don’t even remember what I did!”
Now, 29 films later, she is back as Rajjo in the third installment of the same popular franchise. The actress herself pointed out that there’s no other franchise in the country where the actress has been retained for all three parts.
Earlier, Salman Khan declared that Sonakshi would be a part of every Dabangg film. Sonakshi acclaims that she considers it a huge compliment. She said on this,
“It means I did something right and that brings a sense of comfort. Whatever I have learnt about acting is from Salman, he taught me well.”
Further while admitting that she still goes to him for career advice, she smiled and said,
“But eventually, the decision is mine. I’m very instinctive and need to feel good about the character.”
Later she stated in the interview that she entered Bollywood in sarees and lehengas and belives that this factor made her the quintessential Hindi film heroine.
She further said,
“I couldn’t be luckier, my debut film made me a hit with the family audience. Many tell me they want a bahu like me. It’s embarrassing but sweet too.”
Then while revealing how her friends also have to bear the consequences of her ‘clean’ image, she laughed out loud and said,
“They crib that parents hold me up as a role model without knowing how I really am.”
Again while pointing out that if she is respectful with her elders, she grinned and said it’s because it’s part of our culture and her upbringing. Sonakshi also mentioned that she is a lot like her on-screen avatar, which is normally docile and only turns feisty around husband Chulbul Pandey.
She said,
“Rajjo has her own voice and is quite Dabangg in her own way. That is how she holds her own before Chulbul.”
Saiee Manjrekar, actor Mahesh Manjrekar’s daughter, will make her Bollywood debut with Dabangg 3. While talking about it, Sonakshi said this time that the two ladies will share screen space in the film. She said,
“The franchise is 10 years older, but we are all a little younger because it’s a prequel. It took us seven years to come up with something new and interesting.”
Early in her career, she was called a lucky mascot as all her films set the cash registers jingling. Then, she changed tracks.
“My commercial films gave me the courage to do films that I had to carry on my shoulders. I love taking responsibility. It’s so liberating to have a choice and these characters were strong women.
The films may not have done as well as I’d expected, but that just goes on to show that the audience has a long way to go in accepting female protagonists.”
She added that she would continue to do such films because they are fulfilling, and her performances were appreciated.
“So, it’s a win-win for me. The amount of work I have done in the past nine years has been phenomenal, but I still approach every film like it’s my first and hope I never stop learning.”
