When I’m pushed against a wall, I push back: Sonakshi Sinha

Whether it was slamming those who commented on her weight or taking on cyber bullies, in 2014, Sonakshi Sinha was fearless in voicing her opinions

This was the year when women came to the fore in Bollywood. And it wasn’t just on-screen — in real-life, too, actresses addressed issues such as politics, women’s empowerment, and even celebrities’ right to privacy.

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One such outspoken star was Sonakshi Sinha, who took on detractors head on. She spoke up about how her film Lootera (2013) was side-lined at awards ceremonies, she slammed those who commented on her weight, and she even blasted Kamaal R Khan for an offensive tweet. On November 13, she tweeted "Please RT this if u think @kamaalrkhan is a woman disrespecting waste of space and deserves to be hung upside down and given 4 tight slaps (sic)."

The post was retweeted over 9,000 times. "I’ve always been like this. Earlier, there probably wasn’t a reason for me to react so strongly, but when I’m pushed against a wall, I push back. I’m not someone to back down and turn my head away, or ignore a situation where I feel my voice matters," says Sonakshi.

One of the issues the actor has spoken up about is the criticism she’s faced for her weight. She even posted an image of a skeleton on Instagram with a caption that read, "…Take a good look at this picture. Now get this: 1) this ain’t ever gonna be me. 2) get over it… (sic)."

Today, Sonakshi proudly flaunts her toned figure and is a regular on fashion blogs. "I’ve become consistent with my workouts. I have a friend who understands my body type, and who styles me. I guess you live and learn. But I’ve always been comfortable in my own skin and I guess it’s time people took notice of that," she says.

And as a great year for Bollywood actresses comes to an end, Sonakshi sees a lot of scope in the future. "Our audience is opening up to a variety of characters, which is why so many women-centric films have done well. That’s a good sign for actresses. It’s a good boost for us to pick and choose roles, and probably even carry an entire film on our shoulders," says Sonakshi.