Sonam Kapoor began her career on the same day as Deepika Padukone. But somewhere along the way, her rival zoomed ahead in terms of films, performances and hits. Sonam, meanwhile, was preparing to strike. She was waiting for a role which would allow her to make everyone sit up and take notice. Raanjhanaa, which releases next week, may just be that film. The actress did the film when it was an emotionally trying time for her. She had split with her long-time boyfriend Punit Malhotra while shoting for the film. With her broken heart she shot for the most romantic film of her career. Read on with a tete-a-tete with the Kapoor girl...
What made you sign Raanjhanaa?
What I liked about the girl was her growth in the film — it’s like a graph. Zoya Haidar is not just a pretty girl and a typical simpering, goody-goody heroine. She has something more to her. Zoya is a normal girl with grey shades to her. Every film that I do is challenging in its own way but yes, Raanjhanaa has been my most challenging role till now. Getting into Zoya’s character, which has got so many layers, was tough. She is so complicated yet real.
I have always tried to do different films and gone without make-up or styling even in Delhi 6 and Mausam as I try to be different for every character. I like doing different things to challenge myself in every way and don’t like to repeat myself. But I can honestly says that Raanjhanaa has been the most creatively satisfying experience I have ever had in my life. I am playing a character that grows up in this film and with this film I have also grown up in the process. There is a little sadness in Zoya’s character and somewhere I have identified with that. Though Sonam Kapoor and Zoya Haidar are both different.
How much do you identify yourself with Zoya’s character?
Zoya has a lot of chracteristics which many girls will identity with. She is a middle class girl in her values, is very headstrong and emotional. On that level, I do connect with her. I may not be perfect and have many layers to my personality. When Zoya falls in love she believes in it and feels strongly about it. Love is complicated as I believe in it too, like her, but very few people like her have the courage to take a stand.
Did you connect on an emotional level with her?
Yes I did. Acting in Raanjhaana has changed me in a fundamental way. Playing Zoya has made me more settled and calmer. She has a heaviness in her heart and I identified with that. It’s a complex character — Zoya is sad and that’s in me. I love looking at something with a tinge of sadness. I have lived Zoya’s life — cried, laughed and fallen in love with her.
What was the toughest scene in the film?
I can’t reveal exactly which scene but what I can tell you is that towards the end emotionally I had become Zoya and she had become me... I couldn’t differentiate between us... So it was difficult and uncomfortable enacting certain emotions as I felt I was playing out my story. I was going through the process with Zoya and it was cathartic but bery uncomfortable and painful for me.
Did you identify Zoya when it comes to the matters of the heart?
Every individual goes through different experiences. Love is complex and sometimes what we do is inexplicable. When I fell in love along with Zoya I felt a new emotion. I discovered that falling in love can be a beautiful experience...
Was it emotionally taxing?
Raanjhanaa is a boiling cauldron of intense emotions of love, hate, penance, jealousy, revenge, joy, mischief and much more... When I read it and started playing the role I felt I had opened my heart out and put myself there for everyone to see all the emotions boiling inside me...
How was working with Dhanush?
It was incredible! Dhanush is so talented and humble. He appears so unassuming but working with him has been a great learning experience. He is so dedicated and commited.
I loved working with Anand (director) too. He treated me with so much love and affection. I would love to work with him in every film of his. I love him. He is the best! I find such people rare in life - people who are so pure and unjaded.
How has your parents and sister Rhea reacted to the trailers/promos?
They have loved it the trailers and are excited. My family always wants to see me doing different and exciting stuff. The media reactions have been incredible too. Rhea loves Raanjhanaa as she thinks its very real, Indian and very funny. She loves complete package of romancem, drama. Raanjhanaa is not a simple love story. It’s a very real and love in real life is very complicated.
Does Raanjhaana feel like a blockbuster?
I don’t know. I don’t think of my work like that. I hope every film is a milestone in my life. I don’t look at any films of mine differently. All my films have made me grow and change as a person. I hope it will be a hit but I can’t comment whether it will be. All I know is that I have already achieved what I wanted to. Everything else is in God’s hands now.
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sonam Kapoor