For Sonal Monteiro, the current days are all about learning Punjabi words, watching Punjabi films, and trying to grasp the language.
Having made a name for herself in the Tulu film industry, establishing herself as an actor in Kannada cinema, and setting foot in Bollywood, Sonal will soon be foraying into the Punjabi film industry.
Confirming the news, the Banaras heroine tells CE that she is excited to venture into learning a new language, for which she made full use of the lockdown period.
She calls it a much-deserved break that she got in her hometown in Mangaluru, and will be travelling to Bengaluru on Wednesday to sign on the dotted line for her Punjabi debut.
“I have always mentioned in my interviews that as an actor, I don’t want to get settled in one language, and want to venture into as many languages as possible,” says the Panchatantra actor about the film, presented by Ishmit Singh Academy and Simar Films, which will be a period drama.
Sonal will be paired opposite popular actor Gurudass Mann, along with Rajveer Singh and Avjinder Grewal, in the cast. She adds that when she moved from Tulu to Kannada films, she got to learn more. “Now I can take this fame to Punjab, where I can get a little more experience and learn a new language,” she says.
The actor, who only has a song sequence left to shoot for Banaras, is eagerly looking forward to the release of her next, Roberrt. The film stars Darshan in the lead role, along with Asha Bhat, and also features Sonal in a pivotal role. She will also be part of Talwar Pete, starring Vasishta Simha in the lead. “The makers of the Punjabi film plan to go on floors in December,” she says.
Lockdown made Sonal relive her school days
Meanwhile, the lockdown time has helped Sonal relive her childhood days, “I have been playing police-robber, cards, badminton, lagori -- almost all the games that I played in school. This time has helped me spend a lot of time with my family and I got to meet my friends. We are making a lot of noise together,”
she reveals.