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Little miss charming
In Kora Kagaz, I am playing a Muslim character for the first time, who in the beginning is very strong and aggressive but becomes meeker and conservative as the serial progresses
She’s not your regular glamgirl with an envious
hourglass figure. Nor is she stunningly beautiful. But it doesn’t take
time for Sonam Malhotra to corner your attention. With
a
pretty face
worn on a petite frame oozing oodles of charm, and a sweet demeanour, Sonam
wins you over instantly. Currently, she’s one of the happening stars
on television with an array of roles in Kora Kagaz, Waaris, Abhimaan and
Kartavya.
A former Miss Gorakhpur, Sonam entered the telly scene anchoring an episode
of Superhit Muqabla. While shooting for the episode she was noticed by someone
from Cinevista group and suggested her name to Prem Kishen who was then looking
for a girl with North Indian looks for his serial Saaye Deodaar Ke a serial
based on a Kashmiri story. She was then signed on for another of their serial
Patjhad. “By which time I had started enjoying the act. I did Superhit...
only because it was a way of earning pocket money but when I did the Cinevista
serials where alongwith money I received a lot of pampering on the sets,
I decided I will stick to acting,” says Sonam with an impish grin.
Soon, she found herself bagging a major role in Parampara produced by Manish
Goswami. Since then, she has become a regular feature in all the serials
produced by Siddhant Cinevision - Manish Goswami’s banner. She’s
got a pivotal role in Waaris where she plays Nandita, an illegitimate child
whose father leaves all the property in her name but still has to fight for
it with her father’s legitimate children. She’s there in Abhimaan
playing Kanwaljeet’s daughter. In Kartavya she plays Gauri, a poor girl
hailing from a village married into a rich city-based family. “It’s
a role I don’t identify with at all, but enjoy doing,” informs
Sonam.
But it’s Kora Kagaaz directed by Asha Parekh that Sonam can’t believe
she’s doing. “Since childhood I have immensely admired two actresses,
one is Waheeda Rehman and the other is Asha Parekh. So, you can imagine my
happiness when I was chosen for the role of Naseem. I was completely in awe
of Asha Parekh on the first day. I soon realised that she was not only a
good actress but also a good human being,” reveals Sonam. Besides, she
rates her role in Kora Kagaz to be very good. “For the first time I
am playing a Muslim character who in the beginning is very strong and aggressive
but becomes meeker and conservative as the serial progresses,” she says
excitedly.
Surprisingly, Sonam is not keen to take on more work despite offers pouring
in by the dozen. “As it is, I am shooting for 25 days in a month without
any respite. I don’t want to burden myself anymore,” explains the
petite actress. She’s however looking forward to doing a commercial.
“Many agencies have asked me to send my portfolio but I have never got
it done,” she smiles promising herself to do it on a priority basis.
In the meantime, Sonam who hails from Delhi is busy trying to convince her
parents to get herself a birdegroom from Mumbai. “I love this city,
it’s full of energy. That’s the reason I want to settle down in
this happening place,” says Sonam all set to move into the new place
she’s bought herself in Lokhandwala - an area which is crowded with
celebrities - proof that she’s
arrived.
Chaya Unnikrishnan