When I propose the idea of having a chat over breakfast to Sonam Kapoor, she responds enthusiastically.
She also, at that very moment, decides what we'll be having for breakfast and where.
"I want to eat South Indian food at Dakshinayan," comes the prompt reply. It's a restaurant known for its South Indian fare, and located a stone's throw away from her house. I find out later that she enjoys going there for a meal on the weekends.
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I worry about our conversation getting interrupted by selfie seekers, and sure enough, a bit of that does happen, but thankfully it doesn't become a problem.
Dressed impeccably in a black and gold ensemble, she arrives on time at the packed Juhu restaurant. A wave of recognition and palpable excitement ensues. A middle-aged woman gestures for a picture. Sonam obliges.
"I come here quite regularly. The people here know exactly what I like, even the amount of sugar I like in my filter coffee," Sonam says, as she is greeted warmly by the staff. A celebrity sighting might not be a rarity in Juhu, but having a famous and bonafide star show up unexpectedly at the next table for Sunday breakfast is rather exciting even in these parts, the ground zero of India's popular Hindi film industry.
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This year has been off to a terrific start for Kapoor, with universal acclaim for her performance in Ram Madhvani's Neerja. She's now working on home production Veere di Wedding, which will also feature Kareena Kapoor Khan and Swara Bhaskar.
BAZ RATNER / REUTERS
When I propose the idea of having a chat over breakfast to Sonam Kapoor, she responds enthusiastically.
She also, at that very moment, decides what we'll be having for breakfast and where.
"I want to eat South Indian food at Dakshinayan," comes the prompt reply. It's a restaurant known for its South Indian fare, and located a stone's throw away from her house. I find out later that she enjoys going there for a meal on the weekends.
I worry about our conversation getting interrupted by selfie seekers, and sure enough, a bit of that does happen, but thankfully it doesn't become a problem.
Dressed impeccably in a black and gold ensemble, she arrives on time at the packed Juhu restaurant. A wave of recognition and palpable excitement ensues. A middle-aged woman gestures for a picture. Sonam obliges.
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"I come here quite regularly. The people here know exactly what I like, even the amount of sugar I like in my filter coffee," Sonam says, as she is greeted warmly by the staff. A celebrity sighting might not be a rarity in Juhu, but having a famous and bonafide star show up unexpectedly at the next table for Sunday breakfast is rather exciting even in these parts, the ground zero of India's popular Hindi film industry.
This year has been off to a terrific start for Kapoor, with universal acclaim for her performance in Ram Madhvani's Neerja. She's now working on home production Veere di Wedding, which will also feature Kareena Kapoor Khan and Swara Bhaskar.
ISHAAN NAIR
Launched in 2008 in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya, Sonam has been choosier than many of her contemporaries. Deepika Padukone, who was launched the same day as her, for instance, has done 30 movies so far, as against Sonam's 14. But apart from notable performances in films such as Raanjhana, and Dilli 6, 2010's Aisha established her as Bollywood's style queen, which is of tremendous value to brands selling to the Instagram generation.
This morning, she orders a breakfast of steamed idlis, masala dosa, medu vadas and filter coffee (at the end of the meal, please).
Sonam confesses to being a foodie, and says she stays fit by working out. Torturous dietary restrictions are not her cup of tea.
On this day, a bodyguard and a publicist accompany her. Apart from them, her team comprises a second bodyguard, a hairstylist and two managers. What's it like to work with her? The publicist, fittingly, says it's great. Sonam herself says she's a tough taskmaster and occasional screamer.
But they have all been together since the beginning of her career, and she seems to dread the idea that they might leave someday. "I cannot imagine life without them, we've been with each other since I started out as an actor. They know everything. And they're good at controlling it because very rarely does something about my personal life come out in the papers," she says, laughing.
That's also perhaps got to do with her relatively controversy-free personality, I suggest, munching on the medu vadas while she digs into idlis, suppressing a smile.
"That's true. I have never dated anybody from the industry, never had a scandalous affair with someone, I avoid parties and I cannot touch alcohol."
Not even occasionally?
"No, I can't do alcohol. I'm literally curled up in my bed with a book by 10 in the night almost every other day," she says, before being rudely interrupted by a man who's pointing his camera in her direction.
This doesn't go down too well.
"Sir, I am not an animal in a zoo. Why are you filming me like that?" she says, loud and stern, and the buzzing restaurant falls quiet at once. "You want a picture with me, you can ask and I will give it to you. It's very rude of you to photograph me without asking."
After the privacy invader has been told off, she says, "Do you think people are scared of me? I think so," she says, half-smiling, pleased at herself for having dealt firmly with the star-struck man.
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