KRITI SANON
FACE 2 FACE-the success story
Kriti Sanon (born 27 July 1990) is a Bollywood Diva, an Indian actress who appears predominantly in Hindi films. She pursued an engineering degree from the Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, after which she briefly worked as a model. After making her debut in Telugu cinema with the psychological thriller 1:Nenokkadine (2014), Kriti won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her performance in Sabbir Khan’s action comedy Heropanti (2014), which marked her first Bollywood release.
She has since starred in the commercially successful action comedy Dilwale (2015), which ranks as her highest-grossing release, the romantic comedies Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017) and Luka Chuppi (2019), and the comedy Housefull 4 (2019). She has also launched her own line of clothing and endorses several brands and products, and has appeared in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list of 2019.
Conversation with the stylish celebrity –
Q. What’s the real Kriti Sanon like?
Kriti- Oh. Well (pause) I’m a simple girl from a middle-class background. I’m not someone who fakes it. You won’t hear me talking in a fake accent or being all hoity toity. The toughest thing is to fake it throughout the day, every day. I like being real and talking to people who’re real. I’m sensitive but not too emotional. I can’t judge people correctly. Effort and gestures matter more than materialistic things. I love spending time with my people and close friends at home rather than party and do small talk. I enjoy a good conversation with good people.
- Hi. Kriti, do tell us about your background before everyone came to know you as a filmstar ?
Kriti- I am originally from Delhi, now settled in Mumbai. My dad, Mr. Rahul Sanon, is a Chartered Accountant and mom Mrs. Geeta Sanon, is a professor at the University of Delhi. We are Punjabi. Everybody knows that I have a younger sister Nupur, who lives with me here. I schooled from Delhi Public School, RK Puram and later secured Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
Q. Do tell us about your association with the Film industry till now?
Kriti — I made my acting debut in 2014 with Sukumar’s Telugu film 1: Nenokkadine, a psychological thriller, in which I played the role of Sameera, a journalist who is also the love interest of Mahesh Babu’s character. Later that year, I got a chance to make my Hindi film debut, opposite Tiger Shroff, in Sabbir Khan’s action romance Heropanti. It emerged as a commercial success. Later I won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for this film.
Then I did a Telugu film release with Sudheer Varma’s Dohchay, a crime film co-starring Naga Chaitanya followed by Rohit Shetty’s action-comedy Dilwale, in which I starred alongside Varun Dhawan, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.
Then I starred alongside Sushant Singh Rajput in Dinesh Vijan’s directorial debut Raabta, which tells the story of star-crossed lovers who are reincarnated. My next release, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s romantic comedy Bareilly Ki Barfi, was a super hit. Last year I starred opposite Kartik Aaryan in Luka Chuppi, a romantic comedy about a couple in a live-in relationship. Commercially, it proved to be a success. My next two releases of the year were the comedies Arjun Patiala and Housefull 4. The latter emerged as a commercial success despite receiving unfavourable reviews. My last film before lockdown happened was Ashutosh Gowariker’s period drama Panipat, based on the Third Battle of Panipat.
Q: Which of your films has benefitted you the most?
Kriti- “Heropanti” was a film that was designed to launch two newcomers — Tiger Shroff and me. It did well. But for someone like me who did not come from a film family, it was “Dilwale” that gave me a huge reach. It was so much fun that it did not feel like work at all, and because it had Shah Rukh (Khan)-sir, Kajol ma’am, Varun Dhawan and Rohit (Shetty)-sir as Director, my audience reach increased hugely. Today, children still love my songs in the film and come and show me my steps.
Q: How do you choose a script now?
Kriti: I have always been instinctive about scripts. I like what the aam janta (masses) would, and I ask myself if I would want to watch this film. We give at least three months to a film, so I should enjoy working on it and wake up with excitement every day. My character comes next, and it is not about how different my character is, but about how important it is for the film.
Q: How would you compare your heroes till now?
Kriti: All are very hardworking and great actors. Tiger and I both have a hunger for improving and Tiger is very disciplined, whether at work or about his workouts. Varun is spontaneous, and always wants to do better until he gets it right. Sushant is very methodical and thus very inspiring. And Akshay sir is by far the best. He is a seasoned actor.
Q. There are reports of you doing a film based on surrogacy ?
Yes, it’s an exciting project with Maddock Films, yet untitled. It’s an entertaining story with its heart in the right place. It’s going to be directed by my Luka Chuppi director, Laxman Utekar. I share a great bond with him. It was an idea initially, which has shaped into a script, better than I expected. Laxman sir has the knack of presenting an emotional subject in an entertaining manner. This will be the first film, which will ride on my shoulders as the protagonist is a girl. It’s challenging. I’m nervous about it. Shooting will start later this year, once this Covid 19 issue gets over.
Q. You still model too and endorse brands?
Kriti- Yes, of course. I endorse for several brands and products. These include Titan Watches’ Raga Collection, Parachute, UrbanClap, among others. I also promote my
own clothing line, labelled ‘Ms. Taken’.
Q: Your sister is also exploring singing and acting now.
Kriti: Yes, she was always passionate about singing, and has taken three or four years of classical training. I told her to keep all doors open.
Q: Unlike most young actresses of today, you have never sung in a film?
Kriti: Yeah (Laughs)That is because I am not trained. I would like to be first trained, and then sing
Q. Your biggest inspiration?
Kriti- My Mom and Dad.
Q. What’s next then?
Kriti- There’s one script which I have said yes to, which I would only want the producers to announce. It’s a thriller. There are two other scripts that I have liked. There are other things to be put together — as to how and when it happens — which needs to be figured out. So it’s all up in the air for now.
- When did you sign your first autograph?
Kriti- My first autograph (pause and thinks). Thats an interesting question. I think while shooting my first film Heropanti..on the sets.
- Any special message to your fans?
Kriti — Take precautions during this lockdown. Lets pray that we all come out hale’n’hearty. And do watch all my movies now..one by one.( Laughs !) And See you all soon at the cinema halls.
