Actress Sonam Bajwa has spoken candidly about her experience with typecasting in Bollywood, saying that many in the Hindi film industry were unaware of her extensive body of work in Punjabi cinema. According to her, filmmakers often viewed her merely as a glamorous face rather than a versatile performer.
Sonam, who is currently being praised for her strong performance in the newly released film Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat alongside Harshvardhan Rane, portrays an actress who stands up against a toxic relationship. The film has drawn attention to her acting depth, which she feels was long overlooked by Hindi filmmakers.
In a recent conversation with ANI, Sonam shared that despite a successful career in Punjabi cinema, it took her several years to find a role in Bollywood that allowed her to display her acting skills. She explained that most offers she received in the past were focused on her looks rather than her talent.
The actress said that Hindi filmmakers struggled to see her in non-glamorous roles because they had not followed her Punjabi work. She added that this perception delayed her Bollywood debut, as directors often doubted her ability to handle emotionally demanding characters.
Sonam expressed disappointment with the film industry’s habit of stereotyping actors based on their appearance or social media image. She recalled that even when she was open to auditioning for challenging roles, some filmmakers refused to test her because they were already convinced she couldn’t deliver such performances.
Reflecting on her latest film, Sonam said that Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat finally gave her a role that allowed her to showcase her full potential as an actor. She described the experience as a breakthrough after years of being underestimated by the Hindi film industry.
A leading name in Punjabi cinema, Sonam Bajwa has starred in several hit films, including Punjab 1984, Sardaar Ji 2, Nikka Zaildar, Manje Bistre, Carry On Jatta 2, Ardab Mutiyaran, and Honsla Rakh. She has also made her entry into mainstream Bollywood with appearances in Housefull 5 and Baaghi 4.
Her latest release, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, directed by Milap Zaveri, continues to run in theatres and has further solidified her reputation as a talented performer capable of far more than glamorous roles.
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