Sonam’s got sense and sensibility

She was born with the proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. Sonam Kapoor agrees that being superstar Anil Kapoor’s daughter saved her the struggle of earning a living. Being blessed with all the luxuries and comforts she might want may have saved Sonam from the tough realities of the world, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t aware of the pressures other actors face to sustain their careers.

“Thanks to my father, I didn’t have to face the tough side of life. Probably that’s why I always chose love over money. My mother feels that I can afford to choose love over money because I haven’t had to slog for a living,” Sonam admits.

That has also meant that in an industry where relationships are need-based and the focus is on hooking up with a Mr Moneybags, Sonam has never endorsed the attitude. “I could never fall in love just for money,” she says. “I like my co-stars and they are a bunch of good-looking men. But I’ve dated an actor. My dream man has to be a lot more than just good looking and rich!”

The actress, who has been in a couple of relationships, admits that rivalry and comparisons can play havoc between a couple: “I think most couples drift apart because of comparisons. Unfortunately, in our society a perfect match is when the man is more successful than the woman.” So would Sonam fall in love with a man less successful than her? “He has to have a steady job,” she says. “The level of success varies. But I’d rather be in a relationship that makes me feel happy and secure.”

Clearly of a very pragmatic bent of mind, Sonam’s (sense and) sensibilities make her the most popular girl in the Kapoor family. Elaborating on her equation with her siblings, she says, “I do play mother hen to my siblings Rhea and Yash. I feel equally protective of (cousins) Arjun and Anshula too. Right now there is no rivalry between us. But we have discussed the possibility of facing such issues. After Gunday, Arjun is an established actor. Yash will soon start shooting for his film Mirza Sahiba. Rhea and I are partners; we share profits and losses too. So in our the case, rivalry or competition is not an issue that we have to deal with immediately.”

On the professional front, Sonam’s films Raanjhana and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag have fared well at the box office. In contrast to her girl-next-door image in those films, is her uber-glam avatar in her upcoming film Bewakoofiyan. She’s even worn a bikini in it! Did she need permission from her parents before agreeing to that?  “Wearing a bikini was my call. I don’t have a body like Deepika Padukone or Priyanka Chopra, neither did I slog it out in the gym for the bikini shoot. I have a tendency to put on weight and can never be reed thin. Yes, I did run it by my parents. Dad and mom were okay with the idea,” Sonam says.

On the subject of her parents, Sonam tells us that dad Anil Kapoor is the “coolest dude”. “I know that a lot of people idolise him,” she says. “He is very fit  for his age. He is just too handsome! I feel very proud when people tell him that he doesn’t look like he has three grown-up children.”