‘IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE YOURSELF’

Sonam Kapoor has always been known as a forthright person who never shies away from speaking her mind. But after spending a decade in Bollywood (she debuted with Saawariya; 2007), does she now hold herself back before saying anything?

“It is not about controlling (myself). I still say whatever I want to. But I don’t feel the need to talk about and comment on anything or anybody else. They are not relevant to my life or my work. So, there is no point talking about anything else,” she says.

However, Sonam maintains that “being yourself” is the best way to be. “I think it is important to be yourself and have a point of view. But it’s not the right thing to pass judgement on other people. I will always have an opinion on myself, but not on another person,” says the actor, adding that she is “very honest” about what she thinks.

“I do not care enough about any [other] person to like or not like them. They don’t make a difference to my life so I would not speak about it. When somebody asks me, ‘What do you think of this or that person?’, I don’t really care. Those people are not significant in my life, so they don’t make it [my life] better or worse,” says Sonam.

The actor is currently working on Veere Di Wedding, co-starring Kareena Kapoor Khan. “I am very excited about that film. It is very important that the film does well, as I feel that it will change the way the audience and the media look at women. I am so grateful that Bebo (Kareena) decided to do the film, and not think that, ‘Oh Sonam is producing it and I am in it’,” says Sonam.

The Neerja (2016) actor is happy that Kareena “trusted” her. “She knows that every film that I have made with my sister (Rhea Kapoor) — whether it is Aisha (2010) or Khoobsurat (2014) — has never been about me. It was very mature of Bebo to understand that,” says Sonam, adding, “A lot of people have insecurities, but she [Kareena] is very secure.”

Sonam feels Kareena is a very smart and nice person. “Working with her has been such an incredible experience. She has always been my favourite, and if anyone asks me, ‘Who is your favourite costar?’, I always say, ‘Kareena Kapoor’. She is always on time, well- prepared, super funny, amazing and not at all insecure,” says Sonam, adding that working with Shikha Talsania and Swara Bhasker “was like working with my closest friends”.

It is not about controlling (myself). I still say whatever I want to. But I don’t feel the need to talk about and comment on anything or anybody else. They are not relevant to my life or my work. SONAM KAPOOR, ACTOR

PHOTO: VAISHNAV & APEKSHA