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What makes Sonakshi Sinha so popular
After starring in two consecutive hits, Sonakshi Sinha seems to have become Bollywood’s new ‘It’ girl. Everyone wants to cast her and the actor has seven new projects in hand at the moment. We ask industry insiders what makes her so popular.
After starring in two consecutive hits, Sonakshi Sinha seems to have become Bollywood’s new ‘It’ girl. Everyone wants to cast her and the actor has seven new projects in hand at the moment. Yet, Sonakshi is not your typical Bollywood actress — for starters, she’s far from being size-zero. Yet, her curvy figure and raw desi appeal have made her the most popular new female lead in Hindi cinema.
“Sonakshi is a home-grown heroine with mass appeal, and a confident actor, without cookie-cutter looks,” says filmmaker Farah Khan, adding, “Most heroines have slim figures and wear tight minis, whereas she is not even trying to be size-zero.” Trade analyst Vinod Mirani seems to share the view: “Looking thin isn’t a factor. Sonakshi reminds people of yesteryear heroines like Hema Malini, Parveen Babi and Vyjantimala, who were not particularly thin.”
After Rowdy Rathore, now producer Viki Rajani has signed the successful combination of Sonakshi and director Prabhudheva for Namak: “She perfectly suited the role,” says Viki. Farah adds, “After Salman and Akshay, it will be nice to see her with younger heroes. She is among the top five heroines today.” Sonakshi, however, has only done girl-next-door roles and song-and-dance sequences. Farah retorts: “Dancing and singing isn’t easy either. At least she isn’t a vapid doll.”
Her image of a desi girl (the opposite of the accented-English-spewing actor) seems to be working well for the actor. Milan Luthria (he’s directing her in the Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai sequel) feels, “Perhaps the taste of the Indian male has gone back in favour of the typical Indian girl. Sonakshi appeals to teenagers and men in their forties, which is rare.” Though filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt hasn’t seen her films, he says, “The desi factor will take her far, but let’s see how far.”
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