The unbelievably sexy, sassy, scorching Sonnalli Seygall

That’s a curious way to spell your name. What perks come attached with the added L’s?

Sonalli Seygall: Hahaha… for that you’ll have to ask my mom. My mother believes in numerology. So, one day I come home and she’s like from today your name is Sonnalli Seygall! It was that simple for her. (Laughs)

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It’s just the girls who’ve made a comeback in the sequel of Pyaar ka Punchnama. Why this injustice to men?

The director genuinely feels, let me be honest about it, that devils never change. (Giggles) That’s why he’s retained the female cast. As far as injustice is concerned, I think Pyaar ka Punchnama is far, far, far from injustice to men. As a woman I think it’s more about generalising women and doing injustice towards them, though the film says otherwise. But I’m not complaining because how often does a newcomer get a casting in a sequel? So, I’m happy!

How come there’s been a gap of four years between your first film and the next?

Pyaar ka Punchnama was a big hit. Some people called it a cult, but as an actor I don’t have any qualms in admitting that I don’t think I cashed on its success as much. I went back to Kolkata to finish my studies, as I was in graduation at that point. I came back but wasn’t proactive or aggressive about it; I would go and meet people and audition whenever I was called for. But they would only offer me parts which were glamorous and sexy, which I’d love to do otherwise, but they were all very similar to my character in PKP. So, I kinda wanted to stay away from that in my very next film.

And still you chose to do the second part of PKP?

That’s exactly why I did it. 4 years and my character is completely opposite to the previous one, like north and south. I was glamorous and confident in the first part, but in the sequel I’ve played a simple, not-so-confident girl from Delhi who’s a little more desi. This got me totally excited. Also in these 4 years I’ve really prepped myself up. I got trained in Kathak, Belly dancing, Jazz and few more styles.

We don’t know much about your background. Tell us where you’re from and how it was growing up…

I’m a Punjabi, born in Bhubaneswar, brought up in Calcutta. I also lived in Delhi for a few months before Miss India and after that I came to Bombay. I always knew that I wanted to be Miss India; acting or modelling was never my plan. It was that time when Aishwarya, Sushmita, Lara, Priyanka were all crowned and every girl wanted to be in their place. I was one of them and worked really hard for it. From the age of 15 I started participating in all the Calcutta pageants and won almost all! I think that gave me a lot of confidence. Then finally when I was the runner up and got to know that I have to represent my country for Miss International, I was damn excited. I spent almost a year in training with Deanne Pandey for fitness, Shabina Merchant for diction, Erica D’souza for voice modulation and Hemant Trivedi, of course, for walk. It was a very interesting phase of my life. Right after the pageant I started getting modelling offers. I decided to give it a try, and really enjoyed it. Then I started doing a lot of TV commercials. It was, in fact, the Xylo ad where my director, Luv Ranjan spotted me and asked me to audition for Pyaar ka Punchnama and here I am today. I’ve also done a bit of theatre with the British Council in school and with an English theatre group called Theatreisans in Mumbai.

How would you sum up your personality in a few words?

I often get to hear that I can very easily have a great time partying, enjoying all the silly things and at the same time be mature and very spiritual. I think I have two deep sides which are extremely extreme. I’ve been through some really tough times in my life, but I like to see the positive side. I’m a strong, independent woman and life makes me very happy.

Is there any semblance of you with your film’s character?

I hardly relate with my character in PKP2, but there are a few things that I probably do. Supriya is under confident and scared of her parents, a bit timid at home and aggressive outside. So, that was tougher for me to do. But the only thing common with the character is that she gives whole heartedly in love.

What feelings do the words Ban Gaya Kutta evoke in you?

(Laughs) Ban gaya kutta is something that I loved and had a superb time working with. The feeling that it evokes is a fact that women rule over guys aur hum unko kutta bana sakte hain. Hahaha. I think doing 2 Pyaar ka Punchnamas has made me a woman like this. I was never really like this.

Ramps, advertisements, music videos, acting. What’s your favourite role? Why?

Definitely acting. There’s no two ways about it. Even though I’ve had a great time doing ramps and ads but acting steals the show. There is just so much to do and learn as an artist.

Who’s the most fun guy that you’ve worked with so far?

The most fun guy I’ve worked with would, hands down, be my really good friend, Karan V Grover. I’ve worked with him on this film called Wedding Pullav that also released on the same day as PKP2. Funnily, Karan wasn’t paired opposite me. I’m paired opposite Diganth and he’s opposite Anushka. So we don’t really have many scenes together. But he is a really funny guy, with an awesome sense of humour. When I’m around him I’m the butt of all his jokes and I want to kill him and laugh at the same time. He has this kinky, sexual sense of humour but in a very non offending way.

Most men wonder about what hot models do when they’re not working. What’s your answer?

I think most hot models keep doing things to keep them hot! I would spend most of the time at home. Because in modelling and acting you’re constantly out, travelling, wearing make-up and those high heels. It’s a luxury to just sit at home, throw your feet up, wear no make-up, put on your loose clothes and just watch some films and chill. And at night they party a lot. (Wink) It’s fun to chill the whole day and then let your hair down and party.

If you had to take on a character’s personality from a Hollywood film, which one would you pick? Why?

I’ve always been very fascinated by most of Woody Allen’s work. One film that I love love love (too much love?) is Vicky Cristina Barcelona and I love all the characters in it. But my favourite is Cristina. She is so free spirited, so much fun, so sexual, yet is such a nice human being. She’s just very different, someone who is capable of giving so much love. And Scarlett Johansson, who played it, is so beautiful, I love her.

Talking of dates... are you dating someone right now?

Bore alert!!! No, I’m not dating anyone. In fact this is the longest I’ve ever been single. And it’s all got to do with my work because I was shooting for two movies back to back and both my co-stars have girlfriends. (Laughs)

If you had to ask a guy out at a party, how would you approach him?

This one’s a little tricky because if I like a guy I would actually not ask him out because I don’t do that. But I’ll approach him in some way and twist the things in a way that he ends up asking me out and I’ll say a yes of course. That’s rarely happened with me that I’ve liked a guy and he hasn’t approached me. But yeah, I’ll first see who his friends are and whom he is talking to you and then I’ll try talking to him. Then probably give him a nice hint that I like him and that he better asked me out. Well they do that. So yeah, yayyy!

From the November 2015 issue of FHM India.