Sonakshi Sinha on her ‘happy’ space, sharing the screen with dad, working on her music and looking the best she ever has
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 10, 2018)

Sonakshi Sinha, who takes over from Diana Penty to take the Happy Bhaag Jayegi franchise forward with Happy Phirr Bhaag Jayegi, believes that happiness is a state of mind and one needs to look for it in the smallest of things. “That’s the only way to stay happy,” she says.

The 31-year-old actress plays a Punjabi kudi in the film and insists that it was a cakewalk because even though dad Shatrughan is Bihari and mom Poonam Sindhi, she has very Punjabi traits and a playlist of only Punjabi songs. “I walk, dance and speak like a Punjabi so it was the most natural thing for me to play a character like Happy. Also, I’m not very glamorous in real life, I only look glamorous for my profession and even on screen, I mostly play simple girls whom the aam aadmi can identify with, which is the idea,” she adds.


Recalling her first meeting with the romcom’s producer, Aanand L Rai, she describes him as a “sweet and simple man” with whom she immediately connected on a spiritual level. “We spoke for an hour-and-a-half about food, the films we want to make and only five minutes about this film,” she recalls, showing no signs of pressure coming into a successful series, pointing out that people loved the first film and the original characters who are in this film as well. “That makes the job easier and the response has been positive so far,” she says. Ask her what this Happy is running away from and she says, “The paparazzi, sometimes.”

After eight years, Sonakshi will finally be sharing the screen with her dad in Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se in a song and raving about the experience she admits that working with him had been on her wish list for a long time but surprisingly has not happened in a full-fledged film. “For now, I am honoured to be sharing the screen with three legends Dharam ji (Dharmendra), Rekha ji and dad,” she avers, adding she has grown up with Esha and Ahana Deol. “I played many Holis in their house with Hema ji and Dharam uncle. Even today when we meet, Dharam uncle wonders if I’m going to complain about them. Esha and my brothers (Luv and Kush) would gang up and bully me. But now we can laugh about it. They are amazing family friends.”


Interestingly, Luv’s second film, J P Dutta’s Paltan opens a week after hers. “I’m happy because this is the kind of film he always wanted to do and I can’t wait to watch his film,” says Sonakshi whose upcoming projects include Karan Johar’s period drama Kalank, in which she is paired with Aditya Roy Kapur, and the Arbaaz Khan-produced Dabangg 3, opposite Salman Khan. She suddenly clams up, pointing out that it’s too early to speak about them. “The Kalank shoot is still on and Dabangg 3 hasn’t even started yet,” she demurs, saying the latter is homeground because she started her career with the Khans and is here today because of them. “Doing a Dabangg with Salman or going with him on a Da-Bangg concert is like homecoming for me.”

The actress has just returned from a tour with him that also had Jacqueline Fernandez, Katrina Kaif and Daisy Shah and says that it’s a myth that girls can’t have fun. “In this age of social media, we are in touch all the time and during the tour, we all worked out and ate together,” she reveals.

Sonakshi is looking her fittest and she confides that earlier she would cheat on her diet, but over the last six months she has been consistent with her workouts and careful about what she eats. The effort has clearly paid off. “I’ve surprised myself with my own commitment. It’s been tough but rewarding. The compliments are coming in,” she says.

In her upcoming film, she has sung a new version of “Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo” with co-star Jassi Gill and goes on to reveal that she’s recorded a couple of other songs. After the release of Happy Phirr Bhaag Jayegi, she plans to shoot the music videos and release them. “I want singing to be an extension of what I’m already doing. I also paint when I have the time. The last few months have been super busy and I haven’t painted anything new, but I have a collection of over 30 paintings and I definitely want to exhibit those, hopefully soon,” she says

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; June 19, 2017)

Sonakshi Sinha gets into action mode, talks films and fitness, but steers clear about discussing a certain someone
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; October 30, 2016)

Sonakshi Sinha is cheery and laughs a lot. The actress is clearly in a good mood, ready to take on any poser — well almost. We meet her at producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s office in Andheri where she is promoting her next, Force 2 which has John Abraham as co- star. Her manager hovers around making sure not a strand of hair is out of place making the photographer ask: “Is that the only thing you are concerned about?” The manager still feels the well coiffured hair-do is out of place. Sona, however, keeps posing with her manager evey now and then, ensuring her mane looks perfect. The star has been in the spotlight for her weight issues. She appears even more leaner than when we last saw her, so we begin with what she would love to hear...

You are looking even more fitter. Have you managed to give a fitting reply to your weight critics?
(laughs) Actually it’s more to do with a lifestyle change. As I am doing one film at a time, I can follow an exercise routine and watch my diet. It has happened organically over a long period of time. I can say it has taken its own sweet time. After working with John (Abraham) in Force 2 there is the added motivation.

How has Force 2 co- star John Abraham inspired you?
John is so strict when it comes to fitness. He will literally take the unhealthy stuff out of your mouth. I did not have any control over my food till I met John. It was good to learn a lot from him and take it back with you. He has been a big inspiration for me. There is no scope to give up on your fitness drive, when he is around. And, also the kind of films I have been doing require me to be in ship-shape.

With Akira and Force 2, do you consider you are an action star?
For me, it is the character. It is a coincidence that one followed the other. It was not a deliberate plan, it just came my way. In Akira, I was taking on the baddies. In Force 2, I play a RAW agent. It is a strong character to portray; something I had never done before. If actors can do it repeatedly, why not actresses?

Do you find the action genre exciting?
I have been an athletic person since my school days. So it keeps me engaged in something I like to do. I enjoy sports, it’s fun for me. It is not taxing for me.

Your last outing Akira did not well...
Everyone expected it to do well. Everyone had high expectations of it. For me, it was a great acting with a great director (A R Murugadoss). I was part of a good film. In fact, the martial arts training in Akira came handy for Force 2. I had already reached a certain level of fitness. An actor should play any kind of role.

You are also pursuing music.
Singing is something I enjoy doing. I sing because I want to, but I know my limitations as I am not a trained singer.

Two years ago you had film production plans.
Yes, along with my brothers (Luv and Kush), we are keen to revive the home banner. But such things take a lot of time. So it is still a plan in progress.

You recently changed your publicists. Do you want to reinvent yourself?
Yes, there has been a change. That’s because I am open to working with a lot of people.

You guard your personal life zealously. Anything written about you affects you.
If anything that is written about me affects me, I will tweet about it. If you ignore it people take the liberty to say whatever they want.

But you are a star...
I cannot ignore it. People shouldn’t be given the liberty to talk loosely about anyone.

If you are spotted with someone, there is bound to be speculation.
I get spotted with so many people, so why pick on one particular person? Drawing a conclusion is up to you.

So what is it about you and a certain Bunty Sajdeh?
(laughs) No comments.

(And the manager says the interview is over. We had saved this question for the last, anyways).

Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; October 21, 2014)