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‘Sujamal’ Sood shines
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Sonu Sood hits a purple patch with ‘Jodhaa Akbar’
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Scent of success Sonu Sood is the new Prem of Rajshri Films
Beyond a blink-and-miss mention, most history books will not tell you about Sujamal, the doting and protective brother of Jodhaa. Sujamal is now an integral part of the lives of Akbar and Jodhaa, after Ashutosh Gowarikar’s fact-meets-fiction film. The intense role of Sujamal is actor’s Sonu Sood passport to critical acclaim. “People had written off the film even before its release. All of us who worked in it knew the amount of work we had put it and believed that the film will work. Today, the response is phenomenal. The film is a hit and I am being appreciated for my performance,” he says.
Preparation
Hours before the Telugu premiere of Jodhaa Akbar, amidst shooting for Rajshri Films’ Ek Vivah Aisi Hi, Sonu Sood reflects on the days prior to shooting for the epic. “My mother, being a history professor, was excited when I got the role. She gave me a number of history books on the Mughal era and Rajputs. Though there was very little mention of Sujamal, the books helped me have a better understanding of the era.”
Sword fighting, horse riding and the works aren’t new to Sonu. “I learnt sword fighting while studying engineering in Nagpur; I just had to practice. I’ve done sword fighting sequences in my Telugu and Tamil films too. On the sets, we would speak in Hindi to be in tandem with the film.”
The success of Jodhaa Akbar is still sinking in. Sonu wants to weigh his options carefully. Coming up is Anees Bazmee’s action-comedy Singh in King and Rajshri’s Ek Vivah Aisi Hi. “This is not a sequel to Vivah,” Sonu clarifies. “I am the new Prem for Rajshri Films. From the days of Maine Pyar Kiya to Vivah, the character Prem has been significant for this banner. It’s an honour and a responsibility to live up to expectations. The film is special to me since it’s also a solo hero film,” he says, flashing his trademark smile.
Singh is King features Sonu as a king of Indian origin settled in Australia. Moments of laughter are punctuated by action sequences. “I had to jump from the 75th floor of one of the tallest buildings,” he says, recalling the nightmare.
Telugu and Tamil films will continue to be part of Sonu Sood’s roster. “I built my career in Telugu and Tamil and I don’t want to burn the bridges. In fact, I am shooting for a Telugu film with Jagapati Babu,” he says.
Talk of engineers who’ve stepped into the industry and charted a different course, like Nagesh Kukunoor and Sekhar Kammula, and Sonu shrugs, “Engineers love to take risks, experiment and are creative. Perhaps this works in the film industry as well.”
SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO
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