I RECALL my five hours spent at Sonam Kapoor's Juhu bungalow in early 2009. It was the first time I had met her.
It was also my first time at her place. In the back of my mind, I knew she had made a dream début with Saawariya, although it did badly at the box office.
Then came her second movie, Delhi 6. But what took me by surprise was the fact that a two-film actress became, almost overnight, one of the most in-demand interviewees on the planet.
If you programmed a computer to cobble together a movie out of every cinematic cliché, I Hate Luv Storys, Sonam's third film, is pretty much what you would end up with.
Today, Sonam is still the same as when I saw her the first time. She is beautiful, in an evasive and interesting way.
Her eyes are not that huge, but knowing, her eyebrows are winged, her lips are full, and her expression is sharp and absorbing. But more than this, Kapoor has enormous talent.
And her talent will be tested for the third time with her first attempt at romantic comedy in I Hate Luv Storys, which was released worldwide on Friday, July 2.
Devansh Patel: This is the first time you'll be seen in Western outfits. How was it?
Sonam Kapoor: (laughs) Well, it has been more relaxing. I've played Sakina in Saawariya, who is very different from Bittu in Delhi 6, and now I'm playing Simran in I Hate Luv Storys, who is also very different from Aisha, in Aisha.
I mean, those were the types of films which were offered to me where Indian outfits had to be worn. The progression of dresses in all my films has been slow and steady according to their culture and character.
DP: And would you have preferred a rom-com for your début film?
SK: Sonam wouldn't have done that. I wouldn't have played it in reverse.
Saawariya and Delhi 6 have really benefited me as an actor and not just as a random bimbo walking around the street selling shorts. I think that is more important for the longevity in this industry to be known as an actor. If people want to see a lot of me in my sexy attire, then they can flip the magazines on the shelf because that's where they'll find me in their state of mind (laughs).
DP: What's the first love story you saw on the big screen or on television?
SK: As far as my memory goes, the first film I saw which was a love story was Mughal-E-Azam. I've also seen Gone with the Wind, Titanic and a few more when I was a kid.
DP: Will you be open about your love life if ever you fall in love?
SK: Even if I find my love, I'll never speak about him.
But I can assure you of one thing, if I have met any person who doesn't believe in romance and have gotten along with him, it has to be Imran Khan (laughs).
DP: How were your school and college days when it came to romance?
SK: Romance in school and college used to be a lot of fun. It was innocent. It was a lot to do with the Rose Day, Valentine's Day, Friendship Day, and all. All these days were super cool and we used to go along giving roses, receiving some, exchanging cards, getting some, tying friendship bands, and so on.
DP: Which films have inspired you to play Simran in I Hate Luv Storys?
SK: The way my character is written is so different from anything that you've seen. I'm not saying this to sound clichéd. I'm saying this because it's like picking each and every character from different rom-coms and using them on celluloid.
So we've taken characteristics from all the actresses, like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and Notting Hill, Meg Ryan from French Kiss, Kajol from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge), Rani from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and so on. We've also been influenced by actresses who've done rom-coms like Preity Zinta, Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi. Punit told me to watch all their films and get inspired. DP: You seem to be a director's actor.
SK: Yes. You go into the project believing in the filmmaker. I am a director's actor and I'll only work if a director makes me work according to what he wants in the film.
Any success I get is because of my director and not because of me. I listen to my directors blindly.
DP: And is your role as real as you are in reality?
SK: Some do think that the roles I've portrayed in both my films are the real me. I do like working in a romantic film. I am quite romantic that way.
I am an idealist too.
But if people see me as a real Sonam in I Hate Luv Storys, it works for me.
