Don’t want to be role model: Soha Ali Khan

A decade after she had a shaky Bollywood debut with Dil Maange More, actor Soha Ali Khan hopes she has carved her own niche in the film industry, but the much-admired daughter of veteran actor Sharmila Tagore and late Indian cricketing legend Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, says she doesn’t want to be a role model.

“I think it’s really special to have that kind of heritage on both sides. But I hope that I have managed to carve an identity for myself... I am quite secure in the fact that there’s more to me than just my family lineage. But I don’t want to be a role model,” said Soha.

Opening up on feminism and her connect to Tagore and Pataudi, the Rang De Basanti actor admits that unlike others, she never had to fight for certain things.

“Feminism to me has always been the desire to be equal to men and I feel we are (equal).

“I have to say that I have had a very privileged upbringing and by privileged I mean not economically but in terms of education,” Soha said.

“My brother (Saif Ali Khan) and I were treated completely the same and I never had to want to prove myself in any way but I totally respect the fact that other people did not have it so easy. Women especially —and especially women in this country —had to fight to get what they deserve, so I don’t want to be a role model because I never had to fight for certain things that other people had to,” asserts Soha.