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!’