Sonam Kapoor opens up about casting challenges with her 2014 film, Khoobsurat

Shashanka Ghosh directed Khoobsurat (2014), which starred Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan had received mixed reviews from critics and fans alike. The film also tanked at the box-office after making Rs 24.75 crore in its lifetime run. Though the story of Khoodsurat may not have impressed the audience, but there is a story behind the making of the film that seems more intriguing. Incidentally, no actor in Bollywood wanted to star opposite Sonam Kapoor, just because the title of the movie.

In an interview with Filmfare, Sonam has claimed that after getting rejection from most male actors in Bollywood, she had to get Fawad Khan to be the lead in the film, all the way from Pakistan. “I can’t explain how difficult it was to make Aisha. Do you know how much effort it took to make Khoobsurat? No hero wanted to work with me because it was called Khoobsurat. I had to get Fawad Khan from Pakistan. And look what happened. Fawad became a huge star. He had the confidence.” – Sonam Kapoor told the Magazine.

While nepotism is one of the most recurring topics of discussion these days with more and more star kids foraying into Bollywood, but Sonam says that she doesn’t fall in that category because she is self made. The Bollywood diva, who made her debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya (2007) and then starred in Rakesh OmPrakash Mehra’s Dilli 6, bagged both films on her own talent.

“Initially, when I came in the industry, everyone said she’s born with a silver spoon, they alleged nepotism, etc. They didn’t know that I had auditioned for Saawariya (2007), I had auditioned for Delhi 6 (2009) and that I’ve auditioned for every film I’ve worked in. I just was able to have the initial meeting. That was it. When Delhi 6 was being made, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra had Rang De Basanti behind him. He was the biggest filmmaker that time. Every heroine wanted to do that film. But I was signed before Sawaariya released. I don’t even remember how many auditions I gave for the part. Even for Saawariya, I was auditioned with Ranbir Kapoor. Honestly, I got those films on my own merit,” Sonam Kapoor added.

On the work front, Sonam is currently prepping for her upcoming release, The Zoya Factor with Malayalam star Dulquer Salmaan. This will be the first time that the two star will share screen space and both Sonam and Dulquer have expressed their excitement about that aspect in the past. The Zoya Factor will hit theatres on September 20 this year.