We caught up with Sonnalli Seygall, the touch-me-not girlfriend in Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, when she visited Calcutta, the city she calls home...
What have you been up to?
I’m still basking in the glory of the success of Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (PKP). It’s a very big high for all of us. This is in fact the first holiday I’ve taken after a long time... I’m enjoying all of it.
My bachpan ka pyaar is Salman Khan and I’ve been very lucky to work with
him in an advertisement. Recently, he tweeted to me which made me a
very happy girl. I’d take him out to eat phuchkas because I know he’s a really
big foodie. Shooting with him means so much food around!
So what kind of a girlfriend are you in real life?
Aah! I hope a good one! I’m an easy girlfriend to be with but I can get slightly domineering. Granted I have my share of tantrums, but my needs are flexible.... I remember while shooting for PKP, I used to fight with my director (Luv Ranjan) every day that kaun hai yeh ladkiyan? Kaun aise manipulate karta hai? When, however, I saw the monologue for the first time on screen, I was like yes, I’m guilty of doing this sometimes! Post-PKP2, I’ve used tricks I’ve learnt in the film, a few tricks on manipulation once in a while, just to see if they work or not. And it’s been fun, you should try it too! I need a lot of space in a relationship and I give a lot of space as well. And I like to flirt once in a while. Even my man is allowed to flirt.
Are you in a relationship right now?
Nope! Completely single!
What is the toughest part about being in a relationship?
I feel with the men I’ve dated — especially the ones I met in Mumbai —they’re successful and they’ve done well in life, so that comes with a lot of female attention. That is the toughest and challenging part, but I am prepared for it. I’m an actor and a model and I too get a certain kind of attention from men and my guy also has to be okay with it. Whenever I have been in a relationship that has been the most challenging part — to be able to deal with the attention from the opposite sex and to work around it. Ki haan, when my girl does go out, I have to be secure enough to know that she does get attention but I know that she is mine.
What is the best thing about Bengali men?
That they’re creative and I love those kind of men. They stimulate you. And the same goes for the women here too. In fact, I have cashed in on the wow-Bengali-women-are-so-intelligent factor a lot of times (laughs).
Not many people know that you’re a Calcutta girl...
I was born in Bhubaneswar and when I was barely a year old, I moved to Calcutta. I’ve grown up here, and even though I am a Punjabi, my Bengali happens to be better. I studied at South Point School, St. Thomas’ Girls’ School and Bhawanipur Education Society College. I hardly attended college though because by that time I’d moved to Mumbai.
What do you miss the most?
Definitely food! I really miss it. I’m always like a hawk, on the lookout for whoever is coming down to Calcutta, so I can ask them to get me something.
Then this trip must’ve been about eating out a lot?
I made this list of places I wanted to eat at when I was waiting at the airport. I started with a Flurys breakfast, all alone. I sat by the window and reminisced. I ordered beans on toast, an omelette and wanted a strawberry cube but it wasn’t available, so I ordered a vanilla one instead. Then I went for lunch to 6 Ballygunge Place. The food was fabulous. I’ve done Peter Cat Chelo Kebab of course, and dined at Jai Hind and Tangra. I hung out at M Bar Kitchen and OTT. I think what’s left is phuchkas and Russell Street ki chai.
Did you go shopping?
I remember I used to shop a lot in AC Market and New Market. AC Market used to have some fabulous clothes. There’s this shop called Abhilasha which was a happening shop at that time — you’d get Bombay clothes ya! I don’t know if it still exists.
Let’s sign off with love advice from you...
I always feel that men have this thing about conquest. They will pursue you, woo you, put you on a pedestal. And suddenly when you say yes, you are dropped. Maybe some drop you quicker and some take time. Their attention varies, so you need to use tricks to keep them in check because they like to sniff around every once in a while. Don’t give them too much attention — even if you’re dying to. But that doesn’t mean undervaluing them. Just let them know that you’ll always have the upper hand.
Do you agree with Sonnalli’s relationship advice? Tell t2@abp.in
