Sonakshi Sinha recently revealed the unexpected story of how she landed her debut role in the 2010 hit film Dabangg. In a conversation with Kareena Kapoor on the 'What Women Want' podcast, Sinha shared that she was cast in the film without a formal audition.
According to Sinha, the opportunity arose after Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan noticed her at Amrita Arora's wedding. She had recently lost a significant amount of weight, and the Khans, who were working on Dabangg, felt she would be perfect for a role they were developing. Sinha admitted she didn't initially take them seriously. However, things moved quickly when Salman and Arbaaz visited her home to narrate the script. With her entire family present, they listened to the narration, and shortly after, Sinha found herself on the Dabangg set.
Reflecting on the rapid turn of events, Sinha likened the experience to an arranged marriage. She had been studying fashion design and had recently lost weight. As an "overweight teenager," she wasn't asked if she wanted to do the film but was simply informed that she would be doing it.
Despite the suddenness of the casting process, Sinha embraced her new career. "Once I started working, I didn't stop," she recalled. "There was no time to reflect on whether I should do things a certain way. It felt so natural, like it was meant to be".
Dabangg, directed by Abhinav Singh Kashyap, became a career-defining project for Sinha and the entire team. Starring Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, and Sonu Sood, the action-comedy was a massive success. The film also marked Arbaaz Khan's debut as a producer and featured Malaika Arora in the popular song "Munni Badnaam Hui".
The film, set in Uttar Pradesh, revolves around Chulbul Pandey, a corrupt police officer played by Salman Khan. Sinha played Rajjo, marking her entry into Bollywood. Dabangg was made on a budget of ₹41 crore and grossed ₹221.14 crore worldwide. The film received positive reviews for its cast performances, action sequences, soundtrack, and humor.
Following the success of Dabangg, Arbaaz Khan announced plans for a sequel. Dabangg 2, directed and produced by Arbaaz Khan, was released in 2012, with Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha reprising their roles. The Dabangg series continued with Dabangg 3 in 2019, directed by Prabhu Deva.
Recently, Sinha has expressed gratitude for her Telugu debut in the film Jatadhara, which is set to release on November 7. She has also been touring with Salman Khan and other Bollywood stars in "Da-Bangg: The Tour Reloaded".
