Acting with Rajinikanth sir a dream come true: Sonakshi

Yes, every actor wants his or her films to do well and that is what is happening with me too. I am really happy that I will end the year on a happy note. I hope the next year too proves to be good for me as Tevar is a big film and will be one of the first big releases of 2015.

You have earlier worked with Ajay Devgn in Son of Sardar and now you have done Action Jackson. Given that both the films are hits do you think the audience has already started liking your on-screen chemistry with Ajay.

I am sure they love our on-screen chemistry. Ajay Devgn is a very senior actor and one of the most powerful actors in the industry today. But there are a lot more things that make a film hit. It’s the script that matters the most. At the same time the film is a product of Prabhu Deva and he is one of the most successful directors today. So, I think all these things fell in place and the result is a hit film.

Working with Rajinikanth in Lingaa is certainly one of the highpoints of your career so far.

(Smiles) Of course, it is one of the biggest things to have happened in my career so far. When it’s a Rajinikanth film, the expectation always soars and most of the films turn out to become hits. I am really excited to have got a chance to work with one of the biggest stars of Indian cinema and at the same time extremely happy with the response the film has generated so far.

How was it working with Rajinikanth?

As I said, it was a dream come true for me. Rajinikath sir is a superstar because he is a very fine actor and performer. Everyone knows how big he is as a star but as a human being he is extremely humble and down to earth and doesn’t have the airs of a superstar. The actor and the person in real life are completely opposite. I haven’t seen another actor who is so sober, accommodating. However, you are always under pressure when you are working with someone of his stature because the audience will not only expect him to perform but also the other actors in the film.

How different is it working in a south Indian film and in a Hindi film?

Apart from the language, the work culture too is completely different. Things are really very planned in South India, which today happens in Bollywood too. Once I started shooting for Lingaa, I realised that the south Indian films are very content-rich. They make all kinds of films and there is an audience for every kind of cinema.

Was Rajinikanth the only reason you decided to do Lingaa?

(Laughs) To a great extent yes. When the offer for Lingaa came to me, I was shooting for Tevar. I was told that the film has Rajinikanth in the lead. I thought that if I do a film down south then this is the best way to make a debut. Who better than Rajinikanth! Later, I read the script and found it equally fascinating. So there was no way I could turn down this offer.

Tevar releases soon. Are you getting anxious?

Yes, I am a bit anxious. It is a big film for me. I am really upbeat about the film. I always get excited before the release of my films because I want to find out who have I performed in the film and what is the reaction of the audience. I don’t worry about my films and I don’t have Friday jitters. The fate of a film is not in my hands, so there’s no point worrying.

You will be seen opposite Arjun Kapoor for the first time on screen.

Yes, he is gem of an actor. Tevar is a very young love story revolving around a kabaddi player and a girl who are on the run. It is high on romance and also some action.

You have done most of your films with senior actors like Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar. Arjun and Ranveer Singh are the ones who are your age.

(Laughs again) I don’t know what to say. Actually, I don’t play a role in choosing my co-stars but I also consider myself to be fortunate to have worked with some of the biggest actors. I am not concerned about who I am working with. So long the script is good I am enjoying working with them. I am really happy to have worked with some of the best people in the industry be they my seniors or my contemporaries. Doing good films is the most important thing for me.

Finally, how do you evaluate your career so far?

I think I have been extremely lucky. I got the right break at the right time. I didn’t have any definite plans of taking up acting as a profession. It happened all of a sudden and now I ma enjoying myself thoroughly. I am fortunate to have got so many hits at a very early stage of my career and at the same time I feel proud to have been part of some very good films. I hope it continues.