Sonakshi Sinha Remembers Designing First Actor’s Outfits

Sonakshi Sinha is basking in the glowing reviews for her performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi. “I’m thankful to Sanjay sir for showing me to audiences like they’ve never seen me before,” the actor says. In an exclusive chat with HT City Showstoppers, she delves into her relationship with fashion and her transition from aspiring fashion designer to Bollywood star.

From Fashion Aspirations to Film Stardom

Sinha’s fascination with fashion began in her teenage years. “My mum (politician Poonam Sinha) produced Mera Dil Leke Dekho (2006) when I was in school. I helped her with styling and clothes. Actor Koel Purie was the first person I ever designed for,” she recalls. Despite this early start, she admits that fashion didn’t “come naturally” to her. “My style is very casual, very easy. But I’m open to experimenting and trying new things, so it’s been acquired,” she explains.

The Turning Point

Originally, Sinha pursued fashion design because it seemed like the natural next step after college. “I was just out of college, trying to figure out what to do. I was good at drawing figures and silhouettes, stuff like that. Fashion designing seemed to be the most natural step,” she explains. However, a conversation with Salman Khan changed her trajectory completely. “Salman Khan advised me to become an actor, and my life completely changed,” she says, referring to her debut in Dabangg (2010).

Evolving Roles and Career Highlights

Sinha’s career quickly took off with films like Rowdy Rathore (2012). However, it was her role in Lootera (2013) that truly showcased her range as an actor. This film marked a departure from her usual glamorous roles and allowed her to shine in a more nuanced character. She also credits Akira (2016) for her shift towards portraying strong female characters. “I was the focal point [of the film], it was liberating. That’s when I realised I wanted to portray strong female characters on screen. Since then, I’ve stuck to my guns, whether [a film] worked or not,” she says.

Embracing the OTT Platform

Sinha has also made significant strides in the streaming world. Her performance in Dahaad, which became India’s debut at the Berlin International Film Festival, and now Heeramandi, has garnered her acclaim. When asked if she feels that OTT platforms offer better opportunities than films, she responds, “It’s a coincidence that the better roles have been on OTT. I have always had that choice, right? [OTT is a] long format, and I think people are willing to take more risks with female protagonists on OTT,” she concludes.