‘Small-town boy in me intact’ : The Tribune India

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‘Small-town boy in me intact’

He is driving down the roads of Punjab back to hometown Moga, exulted as ever. For actor-producer Sonu Sood, each trip is a chance to touch base and connect with his roots.

‘Small-town boy in me intact’

Sonu Sood



Nonika Singh

He is driving down the roads of Punjab back to hometown Moga, exulted as ever. For actor-producer Sonu Sood, each trip is a chance to touch base and connect with his roots. This homecoming is a tad more special though. For today he will be honoured at a special function by the Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore in Fazilka. 

As this Punjab Rattan salutes his parents up there in heaven, he remembers the day he left Moga to follow his dream. Today 85 films later and clutch of awards in his kitty, he quips, “Not bad for someone with a non-filmy background.” On the raging debate of nepotism though, he would not take sides between the feuding actors, he does feel, “Being connected in filmdom pays; if my children want to join the industry they would have an added advantage. Besides, if you come from a film family there is always someone around to guide you and help you make the right choices.”  

Charting his own course

Since nearly two decades ago he had no one around to show him the way, he charted his own course by hit and trial. To begin with, his successful stint in Tollywood was both gratifying and frustrating. As his Punjabi family back home wondered aloud; where were the dozens of films he was working in, he so wanted to share his work with them. “Can you believe it, the same films are being dubbed and shown on television time and again,” he beams.

Foreign connection

The same sense of pride resurfaces as he talks about Jackie Chan-starrer Kung Fu Yoga. The film might have been panned in India he has no regrets, for it gave him immense visibility internationally. “I was told you have become   the most-known Indian face in China.”  Besides, his international foray has also opened more doors. Already, he is in talks with foreign producers for a joint production. What made him turn a producer, apart from the urge to tell stories he wanted to, is the fact that he possesses tremendous organisational qualities. Two films down the line, which didn’t create magic at the box-office, he has learnt his lessons and moved on to the biopic on ace shuttler PV Sindhu. “Indeed, making a biopic is far more challenging.” 

So, is Deepika Padukone on board? He won’t commit till the actors, and there are many that have shown keen interest, sign on the dotted line.  He too will be acting in the film, never mind that it won’t revolve around him. “I could have easily made a film on a boxer and cast myself in a titular role.” But the actor who refused to reprise the part of Chedi Singh in the hit franchise Dabangg in its sequel didn’t make it to Bollywood to merely rake in the moolah. “Were it so I would have done a hundred more films.”    

Punjabi roots

Bollywood is a great place to be in, but, “it will always be difficult for newbies to get a break.”  The biggest plus of being an actor is, “It immortalises you forever.” Soon we will see him playing Arjuna in Kurukshetra, a Kannada film. But if you think he takes his stardom seriously, he promises, “The small-town boy in me is intact cent per cent.” So is the Punjabi within, who will soon, make that very soon, produce a Punjabi film.  By the way this Punjabi who doesn’t drink, smoke or party has one essential Punjabi fixation — makki di roti and sarson da saag. Any more proof that he remains at heart our very own Punjabi munda? 

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