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I had a crush on Salman Khan: Sophie
Singer-actor Sophie Choudhary on her first love, first heartbreak and all things in between.
What is your first memory of understanding the term ‘love’?
I guess that as a teen I began to try and figure out what love is by listening to songs and watching movies. I used to believe that one gets butterflies in the stomach and a warm mushy feeling inside when one falls in love. But gradually I realised it is much more than that; simple yet complex, selfish yet selfless, all encompassing yet all consuming... in short, a huge paradox.
Your first crush?
I think that would have to be Salman Khan! He hates me saying that... in fact he hates all young girls saying that they had a crush on him since school, although I’m hoping he secretly likes hearing it!! I went to a very posh all girls school in London where there was only a handful of Indian girls. All the English girls used to have pictures of Western popstars but I had a photo of Salman in my desk. I used to refuse to go to school without seeing one of his songs. I was a kid and didn’t even know what a crush was, but clearly Salman was my first crush!
Your first date?
Was lovely... We went for a movie in Leceister Square and then went for Haagen Daaz ice-cream. I remember it, because I normally hate sharing my ice-cream with anyone but I didn’t mind it with him. Then I remember walking hand-in-hand through Piccadily and Trafalgar Square. I really didn’t want the night to end. We were so young, but he was so chivalrous and such a gentleman. He sent me flowers the next day!
How did you deal with your first break up/heartbreak?
Like all girls do! I cried a lot, listened to lots of bad music, spoke to all my friends and tried to cheer myself up by going out and keeping busy. I’m quite a Meena Kumari when it comes to love! It may have made it easier because it was pretty much my decision and it was the right thing to do then, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. And it doesn’t get any easier over the years! A broken heart is the only instrument that still works, thankfully! Otherwise there would be millions of deaths daily just from heartbreaks!
What is the craziest thing you have done in love?
I have flown half way across the world to surprise someone when he least expected it. I pretended to be upset and have a fight with him for no reason and told him I don’t want to talk to him anymore. Of course I had to say that because my phone was going to be off in the plane. And when he saw me at his place the next day he was in shock!
What is the sweetest thing your partner ever did for you?
He booked one of London’s loveliest restaurants for me so that just the two of us could dine together without anyone else around. It was utterly romantic. Now you know why I’m single.
