I’m as glamorous or sexy as any other heroine - Sonali

                   She looks fresh after her shows abroad. "The response was
                   tremendous," she says. "It was reassuring for me!" Despite the succes
                   of Sooraj Barjatya’s Hum Saath Saath Hain and her recent assignment
                   as the official spokesperson for Omega in India, Sonali Bendre’s career
                   hasn't really gained the momentum it deserves. A complete shift in her
                   lifestyle --from a simple middle-class girl to a film star -- has changed
                   a lot of her personality though! Sonali speaks here about her exciting
                   and turbulent journey in show biz…
 

                   With your looks and figure, you should have been a very successful heroine. But your career
                   hasn't quite taken off. What do you think went wrong?

                   Sonali : (Smiles) I think it has a lot to do with my ignorance. Besides just being `qualified’ so
                   to speak with looks and talent, there are a lot of areas that make films a unique profession. To
                   have the right guidance in terms of choosing projects, making your excitement for certain
                   projects visible so the filmmakers are excited to cast you, flexibility in the availability of
                   dates… Since I was unaware of all these trappings, I made a lot of mistakes. Of course I don’t
                   blame anyone for it. It’s just that I learnt the ropes as I went along and that’s why my
                   success was delayed.

                   Most people who have worked with you attribute your non-success to the lack of masala in
                   your personality that is a fixed attribute for a typical Hindi film heroine.
                   Do you agree?

                   Sonali : Not at all. Anyone who has seen my debut film English Babu
                   Desi Mem or Duplicate will agree that I’m as glamorous or sexy as any
                   other heroine. It’s unfortunate that the films didn’t do too well and so I
                   went unnoticed.

                   Most entrants into films get most het-up about the gossip and slander
                   that comes as a part of this profession. Coming from a middle-class
                   background, how did you cope with slander?

                   Sonali : (Laughs) I coped with it in phases. Initially I reacted with a lot
                   of anger and intensity… then with hurt and tears… a little while later
                   with irritation and finally with amusement. Today I don’t read
                   magazines or gossip items and when someone tells me about it I smile with nonchalance. I’m
                   quite immune to gossip.

                   Do you think being in films has hardened you?

                   Sonali : I wouldn’t say so… In fact my foray has softened me further. While doing scenes or
                   acting you learn to draw emotions from your heart on cue. And this somewhere makes you
                   more vulnerable in real life. What would not bring tears to my eyes eight years ago, moves me
                   far more quickly today and I attribute this sensitivity to films.
 

                   Have you thought about your future? What would you does it hold?

                   Sonali : Whenever I think of my future, the word that comes to my mind is `bright’! I have
                   some exciting projects lined up. There’s Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai with Anil Kapoor and
                   Aishwarya Rai and a film with Sanjay Manjrekar opposite Govinda. A few other films are in the
                   offing which are exciting. This phase will decide my future in films. I made a lot of mistakes in
                   the initial years that I was rectifying. The last year was quite good and now people in the
                   fraternity know that I mean business. I think my prospects seem good. What do you think?
                   (Laughs)

                   If you had to describe yourself in a line what would it be?

                   Sonali : 'Someone who is trying to understand the world around her!’