February 11, 2018
Actress Sonam Kapoor is riding high with her lauded
performance in "Pad Man" . She says it is important for her to play roles that
reflect the social conscience in these "difficult times".
Excerpts from
the interview:
Q. Congratulations,Sonam. After "Neerja", "Pad Man" is
another high point in your career. Girl, you are evolving fast. So much at such
a young age...
A. Thank you. But I am not that young any more... I have
only directors like Ram Madhvani ("Neerja") and R.A Balki ("Pad Man") to thank
for this. I am a director's actor. And I've never shied away taking on a role
for its length. "Neerja" was all mine. But in "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", I was there
for just a brief playing time.
Now "Pad Man" is definitely not all mine.
But it's important for me to be part of cinema that addresses important social
issues. There is no point in just doing entertaining cinema any more. That, to
me, would be very khokhla (hollow). There has to be a relevance to it beyond
just having a good time at the movies.
Q. Why do you say that?
A.
Because we are going through very difficult times. It's a really difficult phase
for us women. Those of us who have a platform and a voice, must use it to
express what we believe in. "Pad Man" addresses itself to the question of
menstruation. It's a huge issue for a majority of woman in our country. It
didn't take me long to say yes to "Pad Man". And I am so glad I did it.
Q. Farhan Akhtar was telling me he would not do roles that set the wrong
precedent in today's troubled times. He wouldn't play a serial rapist or a child
molester just to be challenged as an actor. Your take?
A. I wouldn't mind
doing a negative role provided it doesn't glorify the character or make her
negativity a virtue. As an actor, we are put in a sensitive spot nowadays. I
have to showcase my personal ideology while at the same time I need to do parts
that challenge me as an actor. My next release "Veere Di Wedding" has me having
a lot of fun with my female co-stars.
Q. Were you competitive on the sets
of this chick flick with your co-stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhasker and
Shikha Talsania?
A. Not at all. I am not competitive at all. If I was,
the trajectory of my career would be different. No... And it's not a chick
flick. It's a dramedy. We girls had a lot of fun shooting "Veere Di Wedding". I
was working with Kareena Kapoor for the first time. I absolutely adore her. She
is so beautiful and just not conscious of her looks.
Q. You are also
working with your father Anil Kapoor for the first time.
A. Yes, in a
Yash Raj Films project that I'm shooting right now. We have done two ads
together. But this is the first time we are actually shooting a feature film
together. All I can tell you at the moment is that it's a different person I am
shooting with as compared with my father at home.
Q. Has he let his beard
grow grey to look like your father?
A. Why don't you ask him? You get to
speak to him more than I do.
Q. In "Pad Man", your relationship with your
father played by actor Sunil Sinha is very special. Did you borrow from your own
relationship with your father?
A. No. I didn't have to. The relationship
was so beautifully written in the script. And my co-star was such a wonderful
actor. I love working with actors who are more accomplished than me. It's the
only way to learn on the job.
Q. Your character Pari is the catalyst who
propels the protagonist's aspirations. Did you ever realise your role would be
so pivotal?
A. I firmly believe there is a woman behind every man's
success. And why just a woman? Every successful man or woman has to have a
support system.
Q. The menstruation issue is still kept under wraps in
our home. The film makes us think about why we need to be so secretive and
squeamish about a natural bodily function?
A. It is a social
conditioning. We are are so used to talking about these things in hushed tones.
We hope to open up a conversation with this film.