Sonalee Kulkarni: The shift from aspirational to real roles is incredibly fulfilling

From unexpected collaborations to breaking stereotypes and embracing change, Sonalee Kulkarni has completed an arc. Her recent release, Tighee, is testimony to her hustle, marking a shift from the aspirational space to a more relatable zone. Not that she's averse to aspirational roles anymore, but Sonalee confesses it's a shift that she is proud of. In a chat, the actress reflects on an evolving career, shifting perspectives and more. Excerpts:

'Tighee was never about making a statement for me'

Almost everyone that watched Tighee appreciated Sonalee's performance and her de-glam look. For an actress whose characters have been synonymous to glamour in the past, this could be a tricky zone. But Sonalee says she didn’t concern herself with how she looked on screen. “My freckles and blemishes are clearly visible,” she points out, adding, "It was what the story required and I went with that. It was never about making a statement. The character simply demanded honesty and I gave it that." With the film, the actor found herself stepping into unfamiliar territory. “I was curious to see how people would receive it,” she admits, describing the role, look and presentation as highly unusual. The response, she says, has been overwhelming. "It reinforced my belief that audiences today are far more evolved than they are often given credit for. We tend to underestimate them, but they’ve evolved," she adds.

Does that mean she will step away from glam roles? “For the longest time, I was part of films that made my characters aspirational. This shift from aspirational to being real and relatable is incredibly fulfilling as an actor,” she says, adding that it's a transition that she has embraced without hesitation. "It's about doing the kind of films I love watching and working with makers that make those films. At the same time, I am not stepping away from glam roles either," she shares.

End of an arc; start of a new journey

Her own journey of breaking stereotypes has been gradual. After the massive success and cultural imprint of Natarang, it was difficult to shake off that image overnight. She made peace with that. “There are pros and cons when a film becomes that popular,” she reflects. Instead, she chose to slowly carve a different path through films like Shutter, Hampi, Tula Kalnar Nahi and Hirkani. After her latest release, many have told her that an arc had been completed with this performance. But Sonalee sees it as both an end and a beginning. “When you talk of an arc, you’re trying to prove something — either to yourself or others. So yes, it feels like a culmination. But from here on, things will be different. It’s a new path, one shaped by risk and reinvention," she says. With over 18 years of experience to her credit, the actress admits there will be missteps too. "But one thing I have learnt is that no matter what, you have to keep believing, pushing and trying. The risks that you take and the honesty that you work with eventually pay off," she adds.

Navigating AI and creative anxieties

On the subject of AI in filmmaking, Sonalee acknowledges its growing influence, but believes it should remain a tool, not a replacement. “AI has to be operated by humans—you can’t give away that power,” she asserts, adding, "But we've seen its effect in the recent past and how it has impacted livelihoods. People who have spent their lives honing their craft suddenly lost their jobs because AI could do their work now." Yet, the Natarang actress remains hopeful. "As is the case with any new thing, we tend to resist it. Even with AI, we will eventually retain what is useful and filter out what feels threatening,” she says, calling AI as part of a larger cycle of adaptation.

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