NEWS: Hands pretty full for 2013: Sonakshi

After a successful 2012 with hits like "Rowdy Rathore", "Son of Sardaar" and "Dabangg 2", the new year also looks quite promising for actress Sonakshi Sinha.

"In 2013 I have 'Lootera', 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai 2'... I am going to start shooting for 'Bullet Raja', 'Rambo Rajkumar' with Prabhudheva and Shahid (Kapoor) and 'Thuppakki' remake. So yeah, hands are pretty full," the 25-year-old said here Monday while celebrating the success of "Dabangg 2" at Smile NGO.

Sonakshi is paired opposite Ranveer Singh in "Lootera", with Akshay Kumar in "Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai 2" and she will share screen space with Saif Ali Khan in "Bullet Raja".

Sonakshi is happy that her hard work has paid off.

"(It) Feels good. I have always worked hard and when your hard work pays off in terms of people liking your film, it is amazing," she said.

NEWS: 'Dabangg 2' - double dose of action, comedy,

After breaking box-office records with "Dabangg", actor Salman Khan is ready to entertain audiences in his popular avatar of Chulbul Pandey in "Dabangg 2", which releases this Friday.

"Dabangg" was set in a village and had the rustic, rural flavour of Uttar Pradesh. The story this time around will shift to a posh metropolitan city.

The sequel will see Chulbul Pandey to be transferred to a city, where he will mingle with the elite, but will retain his simplistic flavour and values. "Dabangg" having been a blockbuster, the buzz around the sequel is high too.

The original movie was directed by Abhinav Kashyap, but he opted out of the sequel due to some issues, following which Salman's brother and producer Arbaaz Khan jumped in as the director.

Made under the banner of Arbaaz Khan Productions, "Dabangg 2" has been written by Dilip Shukla. This will be Arbaaz's first film as a director.

The film will see Salman and Sonakshi Sinha again reprising their roles of Chulbul Pandey and Rajjo, while Vinod Khanna will feature as Prajapati Pandey, and Arbaaz as Makhanchan Pandey.

"Dabangg" proved to a turning point of actor Sonu Sood's career, who played the main antagonist Chhedi Singh. Initially he was a part of the sequel too, but had to opt out because of date issues.

Now, Prakash Raj has been roped in to play the antagonist. Made at a budget of approximately Rs.50 crore, the film is likely to release in over 3,000 screens.

The songs of "Dabangg 2" have also become popular, generating more interest in the film. While "Dabangg" had Malaika Arora Khan's "Munni badnam hui", "Dabangg 2" features actress Kareena Kapoor in item song "Fevicol Se", which is ruling the music charts already.

Since the release of "Dabangg" in 2010, the movie and Chulbul Pandey have become a brand. Whether the sequel will be able to create the same magic as "Dabangg" remains to be seen.

After the release of Shah Rukh Khan's "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" and Aamir Khan's "Talaash", both of which earned big bucks at the box-office, it would be interesting to see how "Dabangg 2" does at the box-office and which Khan takes the top slot.

NEWS: Sonakshi excited about dancing with Shahid Kapoor in Namak

Actress Sonakshi Sinha says viewers should look forward to a lot of dance in Namak, given Prabhudheva and Shahid Kapoor's association with it. 
"We are starting Namak in February. (I'm) looking forward to it and of course since we have Prabhudheva and Shahid in the film, there is going to be a lot of dance in the film," said Sonakshi.

"I am completely happy because I love dancing and it will be completely a masala film. I don't think you can expect anything less from Prabhudheva," she added. 

Sonakshi has had a brush with Prabhudheva's style of working in Rowdy Rathore, which did well at the box office. Sonakshi also did an item number with the actor-choreographer-filmmaker in OMG: Oh My God!. 

Ask if she is learning any new dance form for Namak, she said: "Not new kind of dance, but once we start shooting I am sure Prabhu will make up something new and make us do that."

NEWS: Sonakshi excited to work with Saif in 'Bullet Raja'

After working with names like Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, actress Sonakshi Sinha is now excited about working with Saif Ali Khan in "Bullet Raja". She considers it a "fresh pairing".

"It's a very fresh pairing and I am looking forward to work with Saif Ali Khan. I actually wanted to work with him for quite some time, and luckily got an opportunity with 'Bullet Raja'. I am extremely excited to work with Saif," Sonakshi told IANS.

"Bullet Raja", directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, is set around Uttar Pradesh-based mafia.

The shooting of the movie has already begun, but Sonakshi will join the crew in February 2013.

"I believe they have already started shooting the film. I was busy shooting for 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai 2' and 'Dabangg 2', so I will join the crew of 'Bullet Raja' in February," she said.

Sonakshi isn't sure where her parts will be shot, but says she might have to travel to Uttar Pradesh.

The actress, who made her Bollywood debut with "Dabangg" in 2010, says she is happy with the roles she has received.

She says, "Luckily I am doing some good films, and I am fortunate to be part of 'Lootera', which has been a tough role and different," she said.

In Vikramaditya Motwane's "Lootera", Sonakshi features opposite Ranveer Singh.

NEWS: Arbaaz should've turned director long back: Sonakshi

Sonakshi Sinha, lead actress of "Dabangg 2", says Arbaaz Khan, who makes his directorial debut with the movie, should have gone behind the camera a long time back.

"I personally feel Arbaaz is so well versed with his work that he should have turned director a long time back. I didn't feel for a minute that he is directing for the first time. He is an all-rounder. He knows his work so well I am thankful to be working with him again," Sonakshi told IANS.

Arbaaz turned producer with 2010 film "Dabangg", which turned out to be a blockbuster. Now with "Dabangg 2", he decided to take on the additional responsibility of directing it too.

Sonakshi assures that the sequel, which has Salman Khan as corrupt cop Chulbul Pandey once again, will be more entertaining than the original movie.

"I would say it was great working with the 'Dabangg' team again. It's always fun to work with Salman Khan. I am very excited for 'Dabangg 2', which is scheduled for a Christmas release. I'm sure it will be much more entertaining than 'Dabangg'," said the 25-year-old.

Sonakshi, daughter of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, has so far worked with A-list actors like Salman and Akshay Kumar. In her latest release "Son Of Sardaar", she is seen with Ajay Devgn. Sonakshi says she considers herself lucky.

"I consider myself lucky and fortunate to work with such wonderful co-stars in all my films. For me, more than anything else, the content of the film matters and I have been lucky with that as well," she added.

Sonakshi loves to be a shutterbug

Sonakshi Sinha loves to capture moments through her professional camera, and she went behind the lens to click some memorable pictures during the shooting of her upcoming movie "Son Of Sardaar" in Patiala.

The 25-year-old is quite passionate about photography.

"I have always liked art and sketching and since I have been travelling to beautiful places for my films, I want to capture all those moments with my SLR," said Sonakshi.

She clicked lots of photographs while she was in Patiala, said a source and added whenever she was not shooting, she would take her camera and go all over to click.

The actress was a fashion designer before she turned to acting. She also loves to cook.

Sonakshi gets bike riding lesson from Ajay

If Ajay Devgn rode horses and Sanjay Dutt drove powerful jeeps for their forthcoming Diwali release "Son Of Sardaar", leading lady Sonakshi Sinha couldn't have been left behind -- she tried her hand at riding a bike.

Portraying a Sikhni look, Sonakshi held her breath and balanced herself perfectly on the two wheels to perform a few stunts for the action comedy, which releases Nov 13.

The actress is said to have been a tad apprehensive when she was told that her entry scene would be on a bike and she also had to do some antics on the mean machine.

Sonakshi, daughter of Bollywood's 'Shotgun' Shatrughan Sinha, decided to take the challenge head on, albeit with some guidance from co-star Ajay.

"Sonakshi has never driven a bike before, so she was quite anxious about riding and performing stunts on the bike. So Ajay helped her to ride the bike," said a source.

"She practised it several times and then when she performed the sequence for the final scene, she took the entire cast and crew by surprise as she did it with so much perfection," the source added.

"Son Of Sardaar", directed by Ashwini Dhir, is co-produced by Ajay Devgn Films and YRV Infra & Media (P) Ltd Production.

Sonakshi - surprise packet in 'Oh My God'

Sonakshi Sinha is known to have done promotional song "Go Govinda" in "Oh My God", but the fact that she also plays a cameo in it has been kept under wraps. According to sources, the 24-year-old actress has done a cameo in the film and her role will be a surprise for the audience. Directed by Umesh Shukla and produced by actor Akshay Kumar, the film features Akshay as Lord Krishna and Paresh Rawal as an atheist. The movie releases Friday.

Imran and Sonakshi working hard for Once Upon a Time in Mumbai 2

Milan Luthria has asked Imran Khan and Sonakshi Sinha to catch up often with each other as to prepare for their forthcoming film, Once upon a time in Mumbai.

Milan has adopted a very interesting way to make his upcoming film 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbai' look real. He has asked Imran Khan and Sonakshi Sinha to catch up regularly with each other as part of the prep for the film.

Milan wants their chemistry to look real and for that its very important they become like best buddies. This is going to be their first film together.

The two needs to spend time with each other, know each other thoroughly before they face the camera.

Our source says, Imran also plans to invite sonakshi over for dinner at his place.

Interesting prep we must say !

VIDEO: Sonakshi Sinha Rehearses for IIFA 2012

Sonakshi doesn't mind being on the heavier side

A birdie chirps to say that Sonakshi Sinha does not feel she needs to shed any more weight. She feels the audience has accepted her as she is, so why would she do anything to change that 

She feels that she can carry herself off in the roles she is doing, so why should she go on crash diets and gym it out. A bit heavy should not matter. 

Considering that she is a one film wonder, it’s okay for Sona to have said this. We’ll wait for her other flicks to release to see how well she fits the role.