No point in doing just entertaining cinema anymore: Sonam Kapoor
Mumbai: Actress Sonam Kapoor is riding high with her lauded performance in "Pad Man." She says it is important for her to play roles that reflect the social conscience in these "difficult times."
Excerpts from the interview:
- Congratulations, Sonam. After "Neerja," "Pad Man" is another high point in your career. Girl, you are evolving fast. So much at such a young age...
- Thank you. But I am not that young anymore... I have only directors like Ram Madhvani ("Neerja") and R.A Balki ("Pad Man") to thank for this. I am a director's actor. And I've never shied away taking on a role for its length. "Neerja" was all mine. But in "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag," I was there for just brief playing time.
Now "Pad Man" is probably not all mine. But it's essential for me to be part of cinema that addresses critical social issues. There is no point in just doing entertaining film anymore. That, to me, would be very khokhla (hollow). There has to be a relevance to it beyond just having a good time at the movies.
- Why do you say that?
- Because we are going through tough times. It's a challenging phase for us women. Those of us who have a platform and a voice must use it to express what we believe in. "Pad Man" addresses itself to the question of menstruation. It's a huge issue for a majority of woman in our country. It didn't take me long to say yes to "Pad Man". And I am so glad I did it.
- Farhan Akhtar was telling me he would not do roles that set the wrong precedent in today's troubled times. He wouldn't play a serial rapist or a child molester just to be challenged as an actor. Your take?
- I wouldn't mind doing a negative role provided it doesn't glorify the character or make her negativity a virtue. As an actor, we are put in a sensitive spot nowadays. I have to showcase my ideology while at the same time I need to do parts that challenge me as an actor. My next release "Veere Di Wedding" has me having a lot of fun with my female co-stars.
- Were you competitive on the sets of this chick flick with your co-stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhasker, and Shikha Talsania?
- Not at all. I am not competitive at all. If I were, the trajectory of my career would be different. No... And it's not a chick flick. It's a dramedy. We girls had a lot of fun shooting "Veere Di Wedding". I was working with Kareena Kapoor for the first time. I adore her. She is so beautiful and just not conscious of her looks.
- You are also working with your father Anil Kapoor for the first time.
- Yes, in a Yash Raj Films project that I'm shooting right now. We have done two ads together. But this is the first time we are shooting a feature film together. All I can tell you at the moment is that it's a different person I am shooting with as compared with my father at home.
- Has he let his beard grow grey to look like your father?
- Why don't you ask him? You get to speak to him more than I do.
- In "Pad Man," your relationship with your father played by actor Sunil Sinha is exceptional. Did you borrow from your relationship with your father?
- No. I didn't have to. The relationship was so beautifully written in the script. And my co-star was such a fantastic actor. I love working with actors who are more accomplished than me. It's the only way to learn on the job.
- Your character Pari is the catalyst which propels the protagonist's aspirations. Did you ever realize your role would be so pivotal?
- I firmly believe there is a woman behind every man's success. And why just a woman? Every successful man or woman has to have a support system.
- The menstruation issue is still kept under wraps in our home. The film makes us think about why we need to be so secretive and squeamish about a natural bodily function?
- It is a social conditioning. We are so used to talking about these things in hushed tones. We hope to open up a conversation with this film.
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Spain rejects White House claim of military cooperation with US in Iran war
Madrid: Spain has rejected a claim by the White House that Madrid had agreed to cooperate militarily with the United States amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, even as US President Donald Trump warned of trade consequences over Spain’s stance.
Al Jazeera reported that White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that Spain had reconsidered its earlier position of not allowing its military bases to be used in the war against Iran.
“With respect to Spain, I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear, and it’s my understanding, over the past several hours, they’ve agreed to cooperate with the US military,” Leavitt said.
Clearly denying the assertion, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said the claim was incorrect and insisted that Madrid’s position had not changed. “Not a single comma has changed, and I have no idea whatsoever what they might be referring to,” Albares said in an interview with the Hora25 radio programme.
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Trump had earlier criticised Spain’s opposition to the war, describing its stance as “terrible” and threatening economic retaliation. “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” he said on Tuesday.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reaffirmed his government’s opposition to the conflict, recalling past military interventions in the region. “The world, Europe, and Spain have faced this critical moment before. In 2003, a few irresponsible leaders dragged us into an illegal war in the Middle East that brought nothing but insecurity and pain,” Sánchez wrote on social media.
He added that Spain’s position remained firmly against war, violations of international law and “the illusion that we can solve the world’s problems with bombs”.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Spain’s stand, saying it reflected ethical responsibility.
“Spain’s responsible conduct in opposing the Zionist-American coalition’s flagrant human rights violations and military aggression against countries, including Iran, shows that ethics and awakened consciences still exist in the West,” he wrote in a post on social media.
Within Europe, Spain has been among the few countries to openly oppose the attacks on Iran. The European Union has instead called for de-escalation and protection of civilians without directly rejecting the US and Israeli military action.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes and its support for armed groups pose a serious threat to global security, adding that the bloc has imposed sanctions on Tehran while continuing to back diplomatic engagement on the nuclear issue.
