Don't want to be role model: Soha Ali Khan

Nov 10, 2015 IANS

Kolkata, Nov 9 (IANS) A decade after she had a shaky Bollywood debut with "Dil Maange More", actress Soha Ali Khan hopes she has carved her own niche in the film industry -- but the much-admired daughter of veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and late Indian cricketing legend Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, says she doesn't want to be a role model.

"I think it's really special to have that kind of heritage on both sides. But I hope that I have managed to carve an identity for myself... I am quite secure in the fact that there's more to me than just my family lineage. But I don't want to be a role model," Soha told IANS here.

Opening up on feminism and her connect to Tagore and Pataudi, the "Rang De Basanti" actress admits that unlike others, she never had to fight for certain things.

"Feminism to me has always been the desire to be equal to men and I feel we are (equal).

"I have to say that I have had a very privileged upbringing and by privileged I mean not economically but in terms of education," Soha said.

"My brother (Saif Ali Khan) and I were treated completely the same and I never had to want to prove myself in any way but I totally respect the fact that other people did not have it so easy. Women especially -- and especially women in this country -- had to fight to get what they deserve, so I don't want to be a role model because I never had to fight for certain things that other people had to," asserts Soha.

The 36-year-old prefers to star in "interesting films" and concedes that actors are paid "quite handsomely".

"I also feel that as an actor we are paid very well. There's also a difference between the way we are paid but I know there are certain women who helm films like Deepika Padukone, who should be paid accordingly and sometimes the hero helms the film and is paid accordingly.

"But I can't really complain the way we are paid because we are paid quite handsomely relative to the rest of the country," she said.

Married to actor Kunal Kemmu, the "Iti Srikanta" and "Midnight's Children" actress is in the city to celebrate Kali puja.