I want to be a star, not just an actor: Sonam Kapoor

MACAU - Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor, who turned 24 recently, says she always wanted to be a star and not just another actor.

“For me, stardom is a new and novel experience… it’s lovely. That’s why I became a film actor… I wanted that… I wanted to act and be something. If I only wanted to be an actor, I would have done theatre. But I actually wanted to be a star and I make no bones about that,” Sonam told IANS in an interview here.

Sonam, who made her Bollywood debut in 2007 with “Saawariya” and later featured in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s “Delhi 6″, says stardom definitely brings more pressure but she knows how to manage it.

“There is added pressure but I have been brought up in a way that I am extremely confident of who I am,” she said.

The actress is also aware of the three-decade-old body of work her father Anil Kapoor carries behind him and says besides looking up to him for advice, she also takes due advantage of being his daughter.

“My dad says he survived in the industry for 30 years because he didn’t concentrate on what people wanted him to do, but what he was convinced about. He was not part of the rat race and that’s what I am going to do - that’s what I have learnt from him.

“I am not part of the rat race. I just want to do films. Having someone like him in my family is an advantage and I make complete use of the fact,” she added.

Sonam is at the ongoing International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards for her first stage performance and says she is extremely nervous.

“I am nervous. I have butterflies in my stomach that are going all the way up to my head. The dress that I am wearing is very elaborate. It’s by Anamika Khanna and is pink, red and black in colour and has a lot of glitter and sequins like most show outfits. I hope the outfit stays. But I am excited as well,” she said.

As of now, Sonam is looking forward to her home production “Ayesha” as well as Mehra’s “Sahibaan”.