Sonakshi Sinha Says She Can't Be Called 'Maal' In Films Again: 'As An Artist You Have A Responsibility'

Sonakshi Sinha played Fareedan in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s first web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, debuted on Netflix on May 1. One aspect that has consistently garnered praise is the diverse range of roles portrayed by the actors. Sonakshi Sinha, essaying the character of Fareedan, particularly stands out for her portrayal of a complex and nuanced role. She is seen mostly as a negative character with a deep-rooted past. In a recent interview, Sonakshi opened up about the diverse roles she’s taking up and how she wants her career to look.

Speaking to Zoom TV, she said, “As an artist, you have a responsibility. There are a lot of people who look up to you. I do stand by the fact that yes I was young and was getting the opportunity to be a part of some very big films. Nobody in their right mind would have said no at that point in time. So I did them, but yes, certain things did feel off even then. Then you grow and people notice it, talk about it and bring it to your attention. It’s criticism, but it’s constructive.”

She added, “You can very clearly see the shift in the kind of roles that I have been playing from Akira, so I have not just said it for the sake of saying it. I am staying true to my words. I don’t think I can ever go back to being called maal. It is a step everybody has to take.”

Talking to ETimes, Sonakshi Sinha recalled a time when her films didn’t perform well at the box office, but she was never out of work. She stated, “A good actor is also always looking for a filmmaker to portray them in a way the world has never seen them before which is why I am so thankful to Sanjay sir, I am so thankful to Reema Kagti, I am so thankful to Vikram Aditya Motwane, when that time I was doing those commercial films, imagine me in a film like Lootera. Different right? So for an actor, it is such a pleasure. Murugadoss, suddenly he made an action film with me and I mean I had the most amazing time shooting that film. I felt like the hero of my life and of that film.”

Set against the backdrop of India’s war for independence, Heeramandi tells the story of a few courtesans from Lahore, addressing themes of love and liberty. In addition to Sonakshi, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Manisha Koirala, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal play significant roles in the Netflix series.

Meanwhile, Sonakshi Sinha will next be seen in Aditya Sarpotdar’s Kakuda. This horror comedy, produced by Ronnie Screwvala, will also star Riteish Deshmukh and Saqib Saleem in key parts.