I think it’s been tough for everyone.
But you know we are all in it together and have pulled through.
For me also it’s been the same you know, ups, downs, everything
Queens and people in our history with untold stories you know that need to be told,
I would love to be a part of a film like that
I get it from my dad you know I remember when he came from Patna when he started
working in the industry. The first thing that he wanted to do was buy his own house and he
still has that house today which is in Bandstand, it’s a very cute one-bedroom house facing
the sea and he still has it so I just remember that for some reason and
I wanted to make it my dream as well.
There are speculations that you might do Sanjay Bhansali’s Heeramandi, is that happening?
Hi Sonakshi, welcome to Pinkvilla.
Thank you Avinash.
We are talking after so long. It’s been a year and a half of this entire pandemic
that is just seeped in. How has this year and a half been for you?
I think it’s been tough for everyone. But you know we are all in it together and have pulled
through. For me also it’s been the same you know, ups, downs, everything. I have shot in the
middle; I have been at home. I have ben doing things that I kind of left doing because I was
working so hard and working every day. I picked up my painting, I spent time with my
family, all of that. Just relaxing. You know I got a break after so long, even though it was
forced upon me, I kind of embraced it and I made the most of it so
I am happy about that but yeah now its good to be back to work.
You know usually I; you know my interactions with actors I have realised that whenever
you’ll select a script it mostly based on the first instinct that you’ll feel about that script. And
then of course you work it with the production.
Do you remember the reason, first reason why you had said yes to Bhuj?
You know I believe that when a role is written for you, it comes to you only. So, the character
of Sunderben Jetha Madharparya which I am playing in Bhuj, it had come to me as two films
in the past. Like there were two people who were supposed to make a film on this character
and it didn’t work out for some reason; one film got shelved, one film I couldn’t do because
of dates or whatever. And then again, they never ended up making it and the third time it
came to me was when it came in the form of Bhuj and I was like now I have to do this.
And yeah, that’s when I took it up. And honestly like its such a strong role. Its such a
powerful character, its such a huge personality in our history that you know very few people
know about. So, for me to be able to play that character and bring this character out you know
to the world, to portray her on screen is a real honour and
that’s when I decided that I have to do this film now.
Are there any other characters like these, real life characters that you want to portray?
Is there anything on your wish list?
You know definitely and for me like I have always done films that people have told that you
are the quintessential Hindi film Indian heroine and the funny part is that you know no like
particular period film or regal or royal film I have been able to be a part of you know which is
funny, I would love to do something like that. You know there are so many queens
and people in our history with untold stories you know that need to be told, I would love to be
a part of a film like that you know.
There are so many possibilities like you can’t even like begin to stack out.
You get any names at the top of your head right now?
At the top of my head, I would love to play, be a part of, be a film about maybe a Mughal
empire, maybe you know the Maratha empire you know stuff
like that. It would be so cool to be a part of that world, that universe.
You took the love of painting way ahead during the lockdown,
have you gifted anything to anyone that you made?
Well, I sold my first painting very recently. Me and my brother have started this venture
called House of Creativity where we are, you know we have got together a lot of artists just
so that we can give them a platform to sell their work and show their work to the world and I
myself have made my debut on the platform, as an artist and I sold my first painting. So, I am
very happy about that. Art is something that is very, very personal and you know very
important to me and it’s something that kind of took a back seat over the years
because I have been so busy with my work, in my profession.
But yeah, I was able to go back to it and I am taking it way more seriously now and I really
enjoy it so that’s something that I think will never leave me and I am really happy that I was
able to you know put together a platform like this for other artists like me.
You in fact have an entire room dedicated to painting in the house?
I have made small, little studio for myself. Its my safe space.
I go there and I just lose myself to my paints and my canvas.
House also reminds me, correct me if I am wrong but you have
bought a new house also in Bandra a while ago?
I mean yeah, I mean, it was a dream for me to be able to buy my own house. I am very
comfortable living with my parents but you know it’s just that one fancy, one whim that you
have to fulfil which is why I did it and I am very proud of myself so I pat myself on the back.
I have worked so hard that I was able to buy my own house because I get it from my dad you
know I remember when he came from Patna when he started working in the industry. The
first thing that he wanted to do was buy his own house and he still has that house today,
which is in Bandstand, it’s a very cute one-bedroom house facing the sea and he still has it so
I just remember that for some reason and I wanted to make it my dream as well.
And then I was able to achieve that. So, I am very happy.
But there are no plans to move out from your house?
No, no, I am very happy living with my parents. I think living alone is quite a pain and
Lovely, going back to the point where you said you wanted to period film, there are
speculations that you might do Sanjay Bhansali’s Heeramandi, is that happening?
There are speculations but I will wait for you know Sanjay sir and his team to make official
announcements, I don’t want to be saying anything,
stepping out of line or anything but yeah there are speculations
And there is Fallen as well where you have made your debut, if I am not mistaken?
Fallen, yes
Fallen with Reema Katgi.
How was that experience like shooting with her?
She is quite an intense director and very interesting person.
Oh, she’s amazing. She has become one of my favourite directors to work with and I had a
blast working with her, like she is so clear in what she wants, she is good at what she does.
She is so chill on the set you know. Like she doesn’t like take any unnecessary stress so it’s
really nice to have that kind of, same kind of energy as me. Like I don’t like to take on
unnecessary stress for no reason so it was really nice to have someone like that around you
and it went out pretty smoothly. We had quite a few hurdles to cross you know because of the
lockdown happening in the middle, we went back to the shoot after an entire year but you
know the team was so good that it didn’t feel like that. It just felt like you know
we have just come back right where we left off.
So, kudos to them for pulling it off during the pandemic and for me as an actor, it was mind
blowing experience, like I had a such a blast playing that
character, playing a cop for the first time.
So yeah, I can’t wait for it to release.
But it must have been difficult to shoot during Covid and you know?
Yeah, I mean it did have its challenges, we were as careful as possible and the best part is that
you know we had 300 people and not one of them was tested positive during the entire shoot
touchwood and you know we had our own bubble. Nobody was going in, coming out. So, we
were very, very careful and to be able to achieve that, is hats off to the team.
Thank you so much Sonakshi.
Thank you Avinash. Lovely talking to you.
Bye.