Last Updated:October 29, 2025, 16:28 IST

Salman Khan told Sonakshi Sinha that she was wasting her time studying fashion design.

Sonakshi Sinha said she wanted a career in fashion.

Sonakshi Sinha has revealed that when she made her debut alongside Salman Khan in Dabangg, she was not asked whether she wanted to do the film or not. In a chat with Ranveer Allahbadia, Sonakshi revealed that she had no acting ambitions, but Salman Khan pushed her to pursue the profession very early on in life.

Sonakshi Sinha said, “I studied fashion designing, and I wanted to do something in that sphere, maybe fashion journalism or styling. I wasn’t sure at that point in time, but by some chance, I became an actor.” Sonakshi Sinha said that she never wanted to be an actor.

She added, “I was never fully inclined towards it, but Salim Saab and my father were very good friends, and that is how I also knew Salman, Arbaaz and Sohail. The families are very close, and we used to visit each other during Eid and Ganpati.”

“Salman had been telling me to get into films since the age of 16. I was overweight at the time, and he used to say, ‘What is this fashion designing? Don’t waste your time. You should become an actor.’ I was like, ‘No! Can you not see me?’ I told him that I was not even close to thinking about becoming an actor,” she recalled.

Sonakshi mentioned, “One fine day, I was at Lakme Fashion Week, where I went as a volunteer from college. I was ushering people, and I got paid Rs 3k for the whole five days. Salman, along with his family, came there, and they saw me. They said, ‘What are you doing?’ I told them I am working and that this is my first job. Salman started laughing at me and said, ‘Okay then, take me for dinner with your first salary.’ I told him that 3k won’t cover his dinner,” recalled Sinha.

She said, “Then college happened, and I lost a lot of weight. Then the Khan family saw me at Amrita Arora’s wedding. Arbaaz bhai came to me and said, ‘Maine picture likhi hai (I have written a film), and you are perfect for the role.’ We need an Indian face.’ I didn’t take him seriously at that point.”

“Cut to, Arbaaz bhai, along with the director and writer of Dabangg, has come to my house. They narrated the film to me and my parents. Nobody asked me whether I wanted to do this film, and the next thing I know is that I am on the set,” the actress concluded.

Kashvi Raj Singh

Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-…Read More

Kashvi Raj Singh is a Sub Editor at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in long-… Read More