00:00Your husband is also being inducted in the same day on the same platform.
00:03That's weird, huh?
00:04And guess what, we have the same birthday.
00:07Really?
00:08Not year, but birthday.
00:09Read my interview in Gulf News Tabloid.
00:12Thank you so much.
00:17Good afternoon, this is Manjusha Radhakrishnan from Gulf News Tabloid.
00:21Today we are talking to a galaxy of stars from across the globe,
00:25including the Egyptian actress Mona Zaki, Sonam Kapoor,
00:30and Atif Aslam and a few others as well.
00:32Today, for the first time for the public,
00:34they have been inducted to the Walk of Fame Dubai Stars.
00:37It's called, it's open to the public at Mohabbat bin Rashid Boulevard.
00:42That's in downtown.
00:43So over to you, Mona, congratulations.
00:45Thank you, I'm very happy.
00:47I'm having my own star here in Dubai, actually.
00:51And I'm very excited for this event.
00:55Actually, the energy I feel today is very, it's appreciation, it's peace, it's love.
01:02And I just feel it from everyone.
01:04And that's how I was, I started my day too.
01:08I, you know, it's not like an event that you'd be tensed and you'd be worried.
01:11It's just appreciation and love.
01:13And it's a case of such reflected pride,
01:16because here is a star from the Arab world who speaks her mind,
01:19yet is very talented and is fabulous as well.
01:22You know what I also like?
01:23Yes.
01:24That it's not only about the Middle East, that it went even beyond that.
01:28I think that's what makes it even more special.
01:31Right.
01:32It's stars from the Middle East and even people from abroad.
01:36And I think that's what makes it even more special.
01:38Today, an actor also told us it's not easy being an actor or a role model for others.
01:43Do you feel the pressure as well, Mona, because everybody looks up to you?
01:48I actually never thought of being an idol.
01:52But I just do what I think is right, what I believe in it.
01:55I do it from my heart.
01:57And that's what's most important.
01:59Arab cinema is going through a very interesting phase as well.
02:03What is your take on it?
02:04And you've been instrumental in that change, forefront of change.
02:07I think it's taking a new, let's say, a new era
02:14with different thoughts, different ideas and subjects to talk about.
02:18And that's very important.
02:21Of course, the main thing for entertainment is to entertain people.
02:25But, you know, when entertaining people and you have a cause for it
02:30or you have a message for it, then that's the perfect combination, you know?
02:35Of course.
02:35And you're also UNICEF ambassador as well.
02:38So do you think as public figures, you have this kind of responsibility to do greater good?
02:44And use your voice for greater good?
02:46Of course.
02:46I mean, being UNICEF ambassador for the second round for me means
02:53I just do it from the heart.
02:54You know, I don't think about it a lot.
02:56I care about children in general.
02:58I do think a lot about what to do and how to be progressive and active being an ambassador.
03:06And I just do it from my heart.
03:09That's what really matters, I think.
03:11It really shines and congratulations on being a part of Dubai Stars.
03:14Perhaps you have to tell us how does it feel to be installed in the Walk of Fame?
03:18The whole world is going to watch you and walk through you.
03:21Oh my God, that's weird.
03:24You know, as an artist, as an actor, filmmaker,
03:28I think, you know, you want your work to reach as many people as possible.
03:33And, you know, as you wanted to kind of cross borders.
03:37And, you know, that's all that you can hope for and wish for.
03:40And I'm so glad that my work is relevant in this part of the world as well.
03:44And to get recognition in any way is just the cherry on top.
03:47Exactly. And you've been experimenting a lot with your movies as well.
03:50So do you feel like, you know, it's paying off finally?
03:53Like people expect a good movie from you?
03:55Yes, that is true.
03:57I think in a way, it's a bit of pressure.
03:59But at the same time, I think pressure, you know,
04:02it's like, you know, you're usually a diamond in the rough.
04:04And then, you know, pressure just makes it more beautiful and nicer.
04:08So it's a good kind of pressure.
04:11What kind of movies are you looking forward to?
04:13I know you work with Dilkar Salman.
04:14Yes.
04:15In a romantic comedy, perhaps.
04:16After this, what's next for you?
04:18Well, I've signed two films which are completely different from what I've ever done before.
04:22And I was taking a bit of a break and doing lighter films and lighter work after Nirja.
04:28So with Bad Man, Sanchu, Ek Ladki Toh Dekha, Zoya, Veere Di Wedding.
04:32They were all like, I mean, pretty successful, critically acclaimed films.
04:36But they weren't hard hitting.
04:38I just needed some space and time.
04:40And I think two years is long enough now.
04:44So, right.
04:45I mean, even though I did quite a bit of work, it wasn't like hard and serious.
04:49And that's what I'm going to be doing next.
04:51As an actor, do you think you dwell in that kind of thing?
04:53Do you revel in those kind of dark, perhaps, slightly challenging roles?
04:57I think everything that I do is challenging.
05:00But, you know, to kind of take in someone's personality, which is a little more,
05:05you know, which is a little more serious, I think is hard.
05:09And you need to kind of, you know, you need to have reserves for that.
05:14So now I have enough.
05:16So I think I'm going to go into that next.
05:19And those are the films that I've signed.
05:20Really? And both dad and daughter are being featured.
05:23It's such a cute reunion.
05:24I know.
05:25And he's full of beans all the time.
05:26Yes.
05:27Did he talk to you about it?
05:28No, he didn't.
05:29No, I don't think.
05:30I was informing him.
05:31Yes, you were informing us.
05:32And I had no idea.
05:35I'm just happy to be here.
05:36And I'm going to tell dad that he has a star as well.
05:38He'll be excited.
05:39Oh, fantastic.
05:40And last question, in Dubai, what's your best memory, Sonam?
05:45What do you love doing here and about the city?
05:47Well, you know, my husband and I got engaged six months, seven months before we got married.
05:55And straight after we got engaged, we came together for Soul DX.
05:59Yes, of course.
06:00Because obviously he's like obsessed with sneakers and, you know.
06:03That's not a music fest.
06:04The Soul DX is a sneakers event.
06:07And then we came together for that.
06:09And so for me, like I was telling Anand, I was like, you know, we come here quite often.
06:14His friends are here.
06:15My friends are here.
06:17So it's nice.
06:17It was a special memory for us.
06:20Fantastic.
06:20You guys give us a couple of golds.
06:22You made the boldest pictures.
06:23He did a quad wheel.
06:24I'm like, how is he so agile?
06:26He is.
06:26He's very into fitness.
06:27For him, it's like a big deal.
06:29Fantastic.
06:29And so are you.
06:30You look amazing.
06:31And congratulations.
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