Despite the loose Zara overalls Sonakshi Sinha was wearing when t2 met her at JW Marriott Hotel in Juhu, it was clear that the actress has lost quite a bit of weight. “Thank you,” she says graciously before adding, “I just wish people would stop talking about my weight. First it was ‘She is fat’ and now it’s ‘Look how much weight she’s lost’. I just don’t want to talk about it.”

Fair enough we say and move on to talking about her experience of dubbing her first Hollywood animation film Rio 2, that released last Friday, and why petrol price is such an important election issue for her.

Was the experience of only voicing a film different from anything you had done before?

Of course. It’s not you on screen. It was the most fun experience ever. I loved being a blue Macaw. It was a little weird because I obviously wasn’t used to seeing myself as a blue bird! But the emotions and situations that the characters go through is so real, that you get sucked in immediately.

 

Anne Hathaway who voiced Jewel in both Rio and Rio 2 recently said that it’s very tough to voice her sober because the character is so high energy.

(Laughs) Really? Well, I was very sober (laughs). I found her easy to play because I am like Jewel. When you see the film, you’ll realise how perfectly Imran (Khan) is Blu and I am Jewel.

Do you enjoy watching animation films?

I love animation films. I prefer animation films over normal films. From The Little Mermaid to Lion King to the more recent Happy Feet, Shrek, Up and Despicable Me, I love them all. I also loved the cartoons that came on TV like Powerpuff Girls and Johnny Bravo.

If you could pick any animation character that you could voice, who would it be?

Princess Fiona from Shrek. I would have loved to be a part of Shrek. It’s my favouritestest animation film! And Fiona is such a fun character.

 

A few days after you ‘won’ the Golden Kela award for Worst Actress, you tweeted a picture with a banana. You clearly have a sense of humour…

(Laughs) …and a very good one! Last year also they gave me the ‘award’. They are having fun... I am having fun. They gave me a kela, so I gave them a kela back. Only mine was real and hence edible.

 

It’s election season and obviously, your family is very deeply entrenched. How aware are you of political issues?

I am very aware and I think, everyone should be. Having said that, I am not a political personality, so I am not involved... my father (Shatrughan Sinha) is. I think people get confused and presume that I will be involved in politics just because my dad is. It’s not my job or my place to go campaign for him. As a family member, I support him immensely, but it’s better if I don’t get into campaigning.

Did you campaign for him before you made your Bollywood debut?

I have never campaigned with him. I went with him to Patna the last time when he filed his nominations. The entire family was there. Things were different then. If I am to go now, things will just get chaotic. I spoke to dad just before he filed the papers this time. He said, ‘Wish you were here, but I know you can’t be here’. I don’t understand why other people have a problem with me not campaigning for my father when he is okay with it.

What are the issues close to you?

I feel very strongly about petrol price (laughs). It’s the highest here. Why? It’s very annoying. Everyone has a car or drives autos and taxis. It’s a basic need and it shouldn’t be so expensive. Of course, there are many other issues but this is the one I feel very strongly about.

Your brother Kush recently directed you in a commercial. What was that like?

It was really nice. It was his first ad. I was on a tight schedule, so I told him that I needed to leave his set by 5pm. He wasn’t very happy and kept saying, ‘This is my first ad. Give me more time.’ And, he was done with me by 4.30! His was the most disciplined set I have ever been on.

Clearly the Sinhas are a very disciplined lot!

Ya. And I thought I was the only one! (Laughs)

You have a fairly busy 2014 coming up...

I am very excited about all my films. Rio 2 is my first release of 2014. Then there is Holiday, Action Jackson and Tevar. I am still shooting both Action Jackson and Tevar.

And now about the weight. You still don’t want to talk about it?

For me, it’s all about being fit. Even at my earlier weight, I was fit. I just feel fitter now. I wasn’t doing roles that required me to be stick thin. So, I was content with how I looked. Also, I was lazy. I would come home from a long day at work and not work out. My excuse was that I am tired and being on the set was a workout in itself. Now I make sure that I take out one or one-and-a-half hours to work out four-five times a week.

You’ve always said the pressure to be thin never got to you. So what prompted the change?

People have talked about my weight since I entered the industry. In fact, I was the thinnest when I shot Dabangg and even then people said that I needed to lose weight. A few months ago, I decided that I want to look different. It was a challenge to see how much more I could push my body. I have never paid any attention to external pressures. Unless you want to change from within, you never will.

Karishma Upadhyay

A snapchat with sonakshi

ON HER LATEST FILM TEVAR

It’s a very real character caught up in a beautiful and endearing love story. It’s about two strangers on the run who end up finding love in each other. I’ve known Arjun (Kapoor, who she stars with in Tevar) since we were in school, but we were never really friends. I’m getting to know him better as a person and actor on the sets and he’s great in both departments.

ON HER NEXT RELEASE HOLIDAY

This is my fifth film (after Rowdy Rathore, Joker, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara and Boss) with Akshay (Kumar). Once a pair is accepted and loved by the audience I guess that’s why it is repeated as well. Of course, the comfort level does add to the on-screen chemistry, but that’s not the only reason to sign a film. Akshay is one of my most professional and fun co-stars, so it’s always great to work with him. I respect him tremendously.

ON the choices she’s made so far

Couldn’t be happier. Every film, every person you work with teaches you something. You even learn from your mistakes. I’ve been someone who wasn’t trained to get into acting, so this is my learning ground. So, I stand by every choice I have made so far and it’s been an eventful and exciting journey so far.

ON doing another lootera

I would love to, but a film like Lootera is a rare gem. I’m waiting for that one feeling I got when I heard Lootera while I hear scripts today. Nothing so far. But you’ll know when it happens!

ON HER SKINCARE REGIMEn

I’m fortunate because good skin is in my genes, but that doesn’t mean I take it for granted. Keeping hydrated by drinking lots of water is very important to keep the skin supple and moist. Then a daily routine of cleansing-toning-moisturising is also very important.

ON SKINCARE for summer

Never leave the house without a good sunblock. It saves the skin from the harsh rays of the sun. As for hair, the best thing to do would be to wash it with a mild shampoo every alternate day.

ON her summer day and night looks

In the day, I prefer minimal and light make-up. Prefer to keep it more natural. For the night, depending on the occasion I like to take it up a notch. I love kohl-lined and smoky eyes.

ON being the face of emami boroplus face wash

I can strongly identify with the BoroPlus brand ethos of giving protection naturally. I am really excited to be associated with BoroPlus, an iconic brand which has a legacy of offering natural skincare. Skin is exposed to pollution everywhere and the toll it takes on skin is terrible. I am a firm believer in BoroPlus Anti Pollution Face Wash because it has the goodness of natural products. Its green tea-grape combination offers a perfect recipe for deep cleansing in minutes.

Priyanka Roy

Should Sonakshi lose weight? Tell t2@abp.in