Sonal not keen to join the rat race

In a conversation with Hans Talkies, actress Sonal Chauhan gets talking about her role in Ram-starrer ‘Pandaga Chesko’, playing second fiddle, modelling and more…

“I’m looking forward to see how my character unfolds on the screen. It’s a very different role for me as in ‘Legend’ I played this bubbly and sweet girl-next-door. This role is a complete opposite as I will be seen as a dominating and arrogant businesswoman,” shares Sonal speaking about her stint in ‘Pandaga Chesko’.

Interestingly, the film has another female lead, Rakul Preet Singh and in ‘Legend’ too, Radhika Apte was her co-star. When quizzed if she isn’t bothered about the fact that the other actresses would overshadow her, she is quick to respond, “I have no qualms about that. My character and storyline are what matter to me. I don’t mind who or how many co-stars are there.”

While she had a whale of time shooting for the flick, she recalls a memorable experience which is also something she would like to forget. “We were shooting in Algar, Portugal. I was standing atop a cliff which was nearly 150 feet high. I was on the edge and my back was facing the depth. The wind was blowing at full speed and I really feared that I am going to die the next minute,” she recalls with a grin.

While ‘Pandaga Chesko’ is gearing up for a release this weekend, Sonal is busy with two other projects – Kalyan Ram’s ‘Sher’ and Anushka-starrer ‘Size Zero’. Guarded about her role in the latter, she maintains, “I can tell you it’s a very beautiful and interesting role. I will be seen playing an NGO worker.”

All that apart, she recalls her journey from modelling to acting as a wonderful one. “I think the transition really helped. It assisted me in becoming comfortable in front of the camera which is very important for an actress who just starts her career. There weren’t any apprehensions when I faced camera during my first acting stint.

“But I think modelling is the tougher amongst the two. Having to give expressions and strike a pose is tougher than doing the same when you have words. Expressing through a single photograph or communicating through a 30 seconds advertisement is not easy,” she insists.

Meanwh ile, when quizzed if scrutiny surrounding her personal life is annoying, Sonal says she has learnt to live with that. Linked to Neil Nitin Mukesh in the past, the actress chose to keep silent all the while as the media kept writing about it. “I think the only way to keep calm is by keeping your personal life personal. It isn’t easy but it’s necessary,” says the actress with a smirk.

On a parting note, we ask her why she hasn’t been seen a lot despite spending a long time in the industry and she says, “I don’t want to kill myself with lot of work. I do films that really excite me. I am not here to be part of the rat race and so I like to take my time and take things as they come.”

By Pranita Jonnalagedda