Sonam Bajwa recalls being hesitant to star in a film with Gippy Grewal

Actor Sonam Bajwa made her debut in Punjabi cinema with Best of Luck (2013), alongside actor Gippy Grewal. Their second film together released last week, and Sonam says the hesitation to work with Gippy is gone. “The comfort level is better. During our first film, I was a newcomer, so I had a lot of hesitation, but he never made me feel like a newcomer. Now, we share a great equation. It’s easier to deliver scenes because I’m more confident around him,” says Sonam. The actor takes inspiration from how Gippy has grown as an artist in four years. “He has become a writer, director, he has his own production house. I’d like to believe that I have also evolved by learning from him. This also impacts the on-screen chemistry,” she says. While many actors aspire to enter Bollywood after doing regional cinema, Sonam took up a Tamil film instead, and she is content with her decision. The actor, who debuted in Tamil cinema with the film, Kappal, says: “The [southern] film industry is so huge that you want to be a part of it. The exposure is immense... There are some amazing directors who are bigger than some of the Bollywood directors. It also has a wider reach in terms of audience and budget.” Drawing a comparison, Sonam says that things are gradually changing (for the better) even in the Punjabi film industry. “Actors’ fee in the South is huge, but things in Punjabi industry are also changing. I’d love to do more films down South, but I’ve been occupied with Punjabi films,” says Sonam.

PHOTOS: SHIVAM SAXENA/HT