Birthday Special: Times when Sonakshi Sinha proved that she is so much more than a star kid

Daughter of 'shotgun' Shatrughan Sinha and wife Poonam, Sonakshi Sinha turns 36 today. In her 13-year-old career, Sonakshi has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and while huge commercial success has sometimes eluded her, she remains a bankable star. Off-screen, the actor, who has hardly been part of any controversy, prefers to keep a low profile, spending time with her family. On her big day today, we take a look at some projects that she shined in...

In 1953, Pakhi, (Sonakshi) an aristocrat's daughter, falls in love with an archaeologist. However, unknown to her, he leads a double life that threatens their relationship. Partially based on O. Henry's short story 'The Last Leaf', the movie co-starring Ranveer Singh, is undoubtedly Sonakshi's best work till date. It was honest, poised and almost like watching a poetry in motion on screen. The magical songs added to the charm of this Vikramaditya Motwane masterpiece.

Even though critically not appreciated much, the franchise remains special as Sonakshi made her foray into Bollywood with the first part that came out in 2010. Salman Khan essayed the titular cop Chulbul Pandey, while Sonakshi played his love interest Rajjo, and Arbaaz Khan starred as Chulbul's step-brother Makhanchand "Makkhi" Pandey. Even though relegated to playing the romantic lead, Sonakshi held on to her own against Salman Khan in this masala entertainer series.

This one, though commercially not successful, stands high on Sonakshi's best performances list since it is not often that you see a female lead do an out and out action role. It stars Sonakshi as Akira Sharma, a young girl, who witnesses a group of men throwing acid on a woman's face. She helps the police catch one of the criminals, and is therefore harassed by the accused who slashes her face out of revenge, giving her a scar. How Akira rises on her own and makes herself self-reliant to fight for women's safety in general forms the rest of the story.

It is tough to hold your own in an ensemble cast, but Sonakshi came as a breath of fresh air. Starring as Eka Gandhi, the movie is an inspiring story of a group of all women scientists at ISRO, who battle their personal and professional hassles and work tirelessly towards their only motive, the Mars Orbiter Mission. While many thought that Akshay Kumar would lead the drama, it was on the contrary, women all the way with Vidya Balan leading from the front, ably supported by Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari and Nithya Menen.

Sonakshi Sinha's maiden OTT outing has opened to a thunderous respone. Sonakshi plays the protagonist cop Anjali Bhaati, who investigates a series of deaths where women are found dead in public bathrooms. The death first appears to be a suicide, but as the investigation progresses, Bhaati realises that there's a serial killer on the loose, who might also be a psychopath. Co-starring Sohum Shah, Gulshan Devaiah and Vijay Varma, the show is a must watch.