Sonam left for Toronto on Sunday night. But not before expressing her happiness over the encouraging opening of Aisha. “I feel like a hero! I feel I’m shouldering the film. It’s daunting to know that heroes get an opening at the box office, and then you see my film get an opening! If I may say so, Aisha got a very decent opening. In any case it’s not very big-budgeted film.”
Sonam says that she wasn’t shaken by the first two failures. “I won’t allow myself to be judged by whether my film works or not at the box office. I am here to act because I love it. Once Sanjay Sir (Bhansali) brought to my notice that I should act, this was it for me. Saawariya and Delhi 6 are very precious to me. I learnt so much while acting in these films. I gained so much confidence from them.”
In Aisha Sonam didn’t add to the director’s input. “I’m a very selfish actor. I was just focusing on my performance, nothing else.”
Sonam sees herself directing a film some day. “Sanjay Sir always encouraged my aesthetics. And I love to write. So I want to write a screenplay. But first I need to feel I’m good enough. I don’t want to be mediocre in anything. I wouldn’t want any director to take up my script and turn it around. Let’s see… I need to get more worldly-wise before I write a script. I need to grow up a bit, see more of the world. I’ve led a very sheltered life. I switch off from stressful situations. I need to get more aware of pains.”
Sister Rhea Kapoor will decide whether Sonam will be in the next home production. “Rhea is extremely clear-headed and practical. Which I am not. I am very much into myself. It’s a Gemini quality, I guess. It’s scary but good. It keeps me shielded from troublesome situations.”
She recoils when I asked her about her real love story with the I Hate Luv Storys director Punit Malhotra. “I’d rather not talk about it. Whether I am dating or not dating anyone is entirely my business. I am not seeing anyone right now. Even if I was I wouldn’t talk about it. It’s in very bad taste to talk about whom I am seeing. Like asking how much money I make. I’ve been brought up differently. I won’t discuss my love life, my money, and age.”