Sonam or Deepika — who’ll be the box office queen?

Both actors are going out of their way to ensure their upcoming movies are promoted to attracg large crowds

NEW DELHI: In the mega clash of Om Shanti Om and Saawariya in 2007, debutante Deepika Padukone had emerged a clear box office-winner against first-timer Sonam Kapoor. Seven years later, the question is  — will Deepika continue to remain a step ahead on the success ladder with Finding Fanny or will Sonam take a lead this time with Khoobsurat?

Both the films are releasing within a week’s time this month.

Deepika’s film is releasing Sep 12, while Sonam’s new offering hits the screens Sep 19  — and both actresses are going out of their way to ensure their movies are promoted in the best possible manner.

Finding Fanny, an English language entertainer by Indian filmmaker Homi Adajania, is definitely not a film that every actress will risk especially after delivering four back-to-back Bollywood hits Race 2, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Express and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. But Deepika took it.

Nevertheless, one should give it to Sonam for choosing to step into the shoes of the enigmatic Rekha for Khoobsurat, the new age twist on the 1980 film Khubsoorat  — one of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s evergreen films and which continues to have a dedicated fan following even after more than three decades.

Both the actresses come from different backgrounds. Sonam comes from a family of actors and filmmakers — her father Anil Kapoor is a veteran actor, uncle Boney is a film producer and her youngest uncle Sanjay is an actor too. Deepika’s father, Prakash Padukone, is the country’s badminton icon.

Yet, it is Deepika who has managed to cement her space in Bollywood as a better performer than Sonam, who has been more in the news for her fashion sensibilities despite having the talent to carry out roles as different as in Aisha and Delhi 6.

After getting a perfect launchpad with Om Shanti Om — a Shah Rukh Khan-starrer which turned out to be a huge hit, Deepika went on to prove her mettle with a mix of films like Bachna Ae Haseeno, Love Aaj Kal, Housefull, Aarakshan and Cocktail.

The Bangalore girl had her share of flops too in the form of Chandni Chowk to China, Karthik Calling Karthik, Lafangey Parindey, Break Ke Baad and Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey but her four recent back-to-back gems catapulted her into a league of her own.

Sonam bagged roles in biggies like Thank You,  Mausam and Players, but all bit the dust at the ticket windows. Her work in “Raanjhanaa” was appreciated, but in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, her appearance was as good as a cameo.

Earlier this year, Sonam was seen in Bewakoofiyaan, which didn’t elicit the response she would’ve expected.

Meanwhile, Deepika is also hoping to strike gold yet again with the offbeat Finding Fanny.

But there’s no mean competition here  — or so it seemed from photographs from a Finding Fanny screening, where Deepika gave Sonam a warm welcome in Mumbai. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2014.

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