Actress Sonal Monteiro has worked in the Hindi and Kannada film industries. She is now gearing up for her upcoming movie Banaras, which releases in theatres on November 4 in Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam languages. The trailer of Banaras was launched in a grand way in Bengaluru. The movie also stars Zaid Khan and is directed by Bell Bottom helmer Jayatheertha. The Free Press Journal caught up with the actress for a chat. Excerpts
You are doing a lot of work in the South, tell a bit about it?
I have been here for eight years. I have done Tulu films and then I came across a Kannada film. One of my films, Robert, was released in Telugu. I have been getting offers in Malayalam and Tamil as well. But as of now, I am tied up with a lot of cinema in Kannada, so I am looking to explore.
Your Banaras co-star, Zaid, said the hero’s name needs to be on top. What do you have to say?
That is absolutely wrong. I told Zaid. Actually, he is a sweet guy. I think he didn’t get the question and it just came out spontaneously. He took great care of me as his female co-artist. The heroes (male actors) don’t care, but he has looked after me. I have huge respect for him. I have told him to carry on with his respectful attitude he has shown towards me. I told him in the future, every heroine you work with, you should treat all of them the same way you treated me. We (women) go to the sets where there are so many men. We should be protected, and my next film, Banaras, made me feel that. The entire team has taken care of me.
A still from the film |
What is your next film about?
The title is Sarojini Naidu. I am glad that in such a short span of my career I have got to do this film. It is a biopic of a strong woman. My mother, being a single parent, has always been strong. I lost my father when I was in second grade. I don’t know the care taken by a father. My mother has raised us three girls. We have no men in our family. My sister and I built the house. I always told my mom that I wanted to play a strong woman’s character.
How difficult is it to bring Sarojini Naidu’s look to life on screen?
It was definitely difficult because I have played the glam quotient roles. However, I play a de-glam role in this. I couldn’t overact. I need thick eyebrows. I had to put on three to four kg of weight for 16 to 20 years of age. For 35 years of age, I had to put on more weight. I will use artificial accessories. But your face can’t look toned, so we are working on that. It’s going to be difficult. Sarojini Naidu is the most difficult role.
