« Back to article

Print this article

'Abhay's dimples are too cute'

Fresh from the success of I Hate Luv Storys, Sonam Kapoor seems just as excited about her upcoming film Aisha. Produced by her sister Rhea Kapoor, the film is a desi take on Jane Austen's Emma.

Sonam chats with Nithya Ramani and reveals the 'real' Abhay Deol her co-star in the film -- and why she loves collecting clothes!

Congratulations on the success of I Hate Luv Storys.

Thank you. Now no one will ask me, 'aapki pichle films flop ho gayi, aapko kaisa lagta hai? (laughs). The figures have gone double during the weekend and it feels great.

'Aisha is a comedy of errors'

How was it working on Aisha?

If you see the promos, you can see the kind of effort and excitement that went into it. I think people are starving for a good movie and this could be it. The movie is coming at a time when people will accept it.

How many times have you match made for your friends?

Many times. I think it is a part of the Indian mentality to try and bring two people together.

How successful were you?

Once it went sour. But in the film, she is successful most of the time. If you have read Jane Austen's Emma, you will know. She is very meddlesome in people's lives and always tries to interfere. She won't let destiny work. Aisha is a comedy of errors. Everybody goes through a lot of emotions in the film.

'I identify with my character in Aisha a lot'

How much do you identify with your character?

A lot. I'm sure every boy and girl will identify with the characters. There's Randhir Gambhir (Cyrus Sahukar) who always wears a matching brand of outfits. He wears a Dolce and Gabbana shirt, Dolce and Gabbana trousers/jeans, shoes, belts. Then there is Arjun Burman (Abhay Deol), who is a banker, a straightforward boy who is in love with this girl who doesn't know that. He is a very middle class boy. Then you have Dhruv Singh (Arunodhay Singh) who is this hottie, who doesn't believe in marriage. He's independent, rich and very close to his family.

Then you have Shefali Thakur (Amrita Puri) from Bahadurgarh (in Haryana), who comes to Delhi to find a suitable match for herself. She finds Aisha, who is everything she wants to be.

Then there is Pinky Bose (Ira Dubey), who is cracked out of her mind. She is sarcastic, bitchy and is always putting Radhir Gambhir down. She is very tacky and Aisha is her best friend.

Aisha is very nice person who is very na ve and lives in a bubble. She lives with her father at Delhi High Society and thinks match making is a social service. She loves the Beatle car she calls it BP, meaning Brad Pitt.

'Abhay and I are the only ones who didn't have any creative differences'

All your costumes in the film are very well made.

Yeah, thanks to Sonia Quereshi. She is the film's stylist and has made us all look so good. She has made sure that every character is styled differently. If you see the film, you will know that Lisa Haydon is very hot, Ira Dubey is very quirky and girly and Amrita Puri is a behenji. It is a costume drama.

I think that is different because aaj kal, films have stylists who just style the actors. But here is a costume designer who gives everyone a distinct look.

A lot has been said about your chemistry with Imran in I Hate Luv Storys. Here, we will see you romancing Abhay. Who did you like better?

Imran is a hottie. Abhay is a hottie too and his dimples are too cute. He is such a Deol. He tries to be all arty but he is not. Ek dum Punju Deol, Juhu (a posh suburb in Mumba) boy hai. All his intelligence and 'New York show off' is all rubbish (laughs). He is a simple Punjabi boy from Juhu. He is extremely sweet and has a lot of values. He is very protective. He would always warn me before I do anything.

But it's said the two of you had creative differences on the sets.

What? No. In fact, Abhay and I are the only ones who didn't have any creative differences. If there was anything going on, on the sets, we would quietly go to our vans. We get along very well with each other and here is a surprise we are going to do another movie together.

'I was treated the worst on the sets'

Your sister Rhea has produced the film. Was there any special treatment for you?

I was treated the worst. She is always Sona, it's ok, Sona adjust karle, Sona this, Sona that. I am a year and a half older than her but she is the boss.

How helpful was your father during the shoot?

Very helpful and supportive. Though he wasn't physically there -- he was shooting for 24 -- he was always on the phone, getting harrowed.

Tell us about director Rajshree Ojha.

Rajshree is a very sweet person. She is extremely generous as a director. She let me work with the script in my own way, which most directors don't allow. She said that I had to say those lines and be comfortable with it. She has come from America and has her own school of thoughts. She doesn't understand dance and songs. She is always open to suggestions. This is her baby, her idea and vision.

'People collect stamps and coins and stuff, I collect clothes'

You have a fetish for collecting vintage clothes.

That's right. People collect stamps and coins and stuff, can't I collect clothes? I was traveling once and saw a vintage store which had a brand called Jeager. The outfit must have been about 20 years old; it had a pink piping. It cost me 30 pounds. That is like trash money. People who understand it's importance will tell you that it must cost 1000-2000 pounds. If you really have an eye for it, you will appreciate it. It's like collecting art. My mom bought a Sabawala about 25 years ago and must have got it for Rs 25,000. Now it is sold for Rs 1.5 crores.

I preserve these dresses. I have a green Chanel dress that I wore in the film. I got it from a store called Frock in New York that sells vintage antic clothes. I had to take such good care of it. I would remove it after every shot because it starts wearing off. My dad is like tum puraane kapde kyun pehente ho?