One of Bollywood’s most versatile and celebrated stars, Kriti Sanon, graces the latest cover of Filmfare, offering an unfiltered glimpse into her creative process, personal growth, and her transformative experience playing Ally in the highly anticipated Cocktail 2. In an expansive conversation, Kriti reveals how filmmaker Homi Adajania became the inspiration behind understanding Ally’s liberated and magnetic personality.
Speaking about preparing for the character, Kriti shares, “Homi Adajania. He’s obviously not completely Ally but I could draw some kind of Ally from him because he has a cool personality. He has lived and travelled a lot. His mindset is extremely liberated and free. He’s non-judgmental and has all those characteristics that Ally also has. I remember telling him, ‘I don’t think I’m cool as a person.’ There’s no preparation that you can do for coolness. It’s a state of mind.”
The actress candidly admits that stepping into Ally’s shoes required her to embrace a mindset vastly different from her own. Reflecting on the character, she says, “I’m not as unhinged as a person as Ally is. She’s lived a different life. She’s just so non-judgmental and I’m an overthinker by nature. I’m analytical and logical about things, whereas Ally is completely free-spirited, liberated and not bound by the norms of society.”
Addressing the much-discussed look of her character, Kriti credits the creative team behind the film, especially costume designer Anaita Shroff Adajania. “Absolutely no input. When I saw the kind of clothes that Ally was supposed to wear, I thought I needed to work hard on my body. Because I had to look fit and toned and have a beach body. That’s my only input,” she says, before adding with characteristic humor, “Homi made me cool and Anaita made me hot.”
The cover story also delves into Kriti’s successful on-screen partnership with Shahid Kapoor. Having previously shared screen space in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, the duo reunite for Cocktail 2, and Kriti speaks highly of her co-star’s craft. “He’s such an intelligent actor. I genuinely believe that he can actually direct a film. I would love him to direct a film because he has so much knowledge of filmmaking,” she shares.
Talking about their chemistry, Kriti notes, “There’s something electric about it, which we got to explore a lot more in Cocktail 2, now that I was playing a human being. Ally and Kunal have this strong, electric and slightly sensuous chemistry where they can also have deeper conversations.”
The conversation also touches upon inevitable comparisons with Deepika Padukone’s iconic Veronica from the original Cocktail. Kriti approaches the discussion with confidence and clarity.
“No, I’m not, actually. Do I expect it? Yes, I do. It’s kind of obvious, as I’m doing a film which is a franchise to the film that she’s done before. The characters, somewhere, have a similar energy of being slightly disruptive, unhinged and free-spirited. But Ally and Veronica are so different and I’m glad that they’re different.”
Beyond films and performances, Kriti reflects on navigating industry pressures, comparisons, and her own evolution as an artist.
“If you’re secure in yourself, none of it matters. These are just traction-related conversations, which people use to make others feel insecure. Everyone brings something different to the table. The only race that I’m in is that I want to do better than what I have done before.”
Looking back on her journey, she acknowledges how confidence has replaced the insecurities of her early years.
“When you start off and you don’t come from a film background, you are hungry to prove yourself… Once that happens, you surpass the insecurity. Now, it’s more about the excitement of taking up the next challenge and doing something different.”
In one of the interview’s most vulnerable moments, Kriti reveals her deepest fears, saying, “Losing any loved one. And sometimes, I have a subconscious fear that one day I’ll be in front of the camera and I won’t be able to act.”
Honest, introspective and refreshingly candid, Kriti Sanon’s Filmfare cover story captures an actress at the peak of her powers secure in her journey, fearless in her choices, and eager to keep challenging herself with every new role.