Sonakshi Sinha: I run away from the paparazzi sometimes

Sonakshi Sinha, who takes over from Diana Penty to take the 'Happy Bhaag Jayegi' franchise forward with 'Happy Phirr Bhaag Jayegi', believes that happiness is a state of mind and one needs to look for it in the smallest of things. “That’s the only way to stay happy,” she states with a sunny smile.
The 31-year-old actress plays a Punjabi kudi in the film and insists that it was a cakewalk because even though dad Shatrughan is Bihari and mom Poonam Sindhi, she has very Punjabi traits and a playlist of only Punjabi songs.“I walk, dance and speak like a Punjabi so it was the most natural thing for me to play a character like Happy. Also, I’m not very glamorous in real life, I only look glamorous for my profession and even on screen, I mostly play simple girls whom the aam aadmi can identify with, which is the idea,” she reasons.

Recalling her first meeting with the romcom’s producer, Aanand L Rai, she describes him as a 'sweet and simple man' with whom she immediately connected on a spiritual level. “We spoke for an hourand-a-half about food, the films we want to make and only five minutes about this film,” she reminisces with a laugh, showing no signs of pressure coming into a successful series, pointing out that people loved the first film and the original characters who are in this film as well. “That makes the job easier and the response has been positive so far,” she says. Ask her what this Happy is running away from and she quips, “The paparazzi, sometimes.”
After eight years, Sonakshi will finally be sharing the screen with her dad in 'Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se' in a song and raving about the experience she admits that working with him had been on her wishlist for a long time but surprisingly has not happened in a full-fledged film. “For now, I am honoured to be sharing the screen with three legends Dharamji (Dharmendra), Rekhaji and dad,” she avers, adding she has grown up with Esha and Ahana Deol. “I played many Holis in their house with Hemaji and Dharam uncle. Even today when we meet, Dharam uncle wonders if I’m going to complain about them. Esha and my brothers (Luv and Kush) would gang up and bully me. But now we can laugh about it. They are amazing family friends.”
Interestingly, Luv’s second film, JP Dutta’s 'Paltan' opens a week after hers. “I’m happy because this is the kind of film he always wanted to do and I can’t wait to watch his film,” says Sonakshi whose upcoming projects include Karan Johar’s period drama Kalank, in which she is paired with Aditya Roy Kapur, and the Arbaaz Khan-produced 'Dabangg 3', opposite Salman Khan. She suddenly clams up, pointing out that it’s too early to speak about them. “The Kalank shoot is still on and 'Dabangg 3' hasn’t even started yet,” she demurs, saying the latter is homeground because she started her career with the Khans and is here today because of them. “Doing a 'Dabangg' with Salman or going with him on a Da-Bang concert is like homecoming for me.”
The actress has just returned from a tour with him that also had Jacqueline Fernandez, Katrina Kaif and Daisy Shah and says that it’s a myth that girls can’t have fun. “In this age of social media, we are in touch all the time and during the tour, we all worked out and ate together,” she reveals.
Sonakshi is looking her fittest and she confides that earlier she would cheat on her diet but over the last six months she has been consistent with her workouts and careful about what she eats. The effort has clearly paid off. “I’ve surprised myself with my own commitment. It’s been tough but rewarding. The compliments are coming in,” she smiles shyly.
In her upcoming film, she has sung a new version of 'Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo' with co-star Jassi Gill and goes on to reveal that she’s recorded a couple of other songs. After the release of 'Happy Phirr Bhaag Jayegi', she plans to shoot the music videos and release them. “I want singing to be an extension of what I’m already doing. I also paint when I have the time. The last few months have been super busy and I haven’t painted anything new, but I have a collection of over thirty paintings and I definitely want to exhibit those, hopefully soon,” she signs off.