The stunningly beautiful almost six-footer is saying all she can to convince us that she's just another girl, like any other, without boyfriend (with her grandma admonishing her for it), a very emotional person, loves dressing up and having fun. Yet, it's hard to believe that Sonam Kapoor is like any of us. Okay, so she doesn't exactly fit into the essential Bollywood “star-kid” image. For starters, she keeps time. The daughter of Anil Kapoor (and well hidden from media glare till she debuted) she suddenly crawled out of the woodwork to dazzle and stun everyone in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's “Sawariya”. And then she charmed everyone in “Delhi 6” as the rebellious Bittu Sharma. But it's not everyday that you bump into a star's child who's first been an assistant director to a prominent filmmaker before turning actor, and who zoomed from being over 90 kgs to the cover of possibly every fashion magazine.

It's intriguing to see Sonam stress that while she's working now on “Aisha” that sister Rhea has produced under the family banner, her father has not been involved in her career till now. Does she see herself as daddy's girl? “I guess so. But I'm also my mother's girl. My father has been a good father, giving me good advise and a support system, but only as a dad.”

Her character in Aisha modelled after Jane Austen’s Emma is a compulsive meddler. Ask Sonam whether she is a meddler in real life and this is what she says, “I am a big meddler. I think it’s a girl thing. No wait; actually it’s the Punjabi aunty instinct. I tell my mom no matter how much couture I wear, no matter how well spoken I am or how many books I read I will always be a Punjabi aunty deep down.”

Ironically, for someone who is self-confessed die-hard romantic, Sonam is part of a film titled I Hate Luv Stories. Ask her if she has had a change of heart and she squeals her dissent. “Nooo, I totally dig love stories. Love makes the world go round. I believe in soul mates too. I truly believe that there is one special person for everyone.” Yet she is gloriously single at the moment or so she will have you believe.

There have been rumours about Sonam dating her I Hate… director Punit Malhotra but of course she will neither confirm nor deny. She does have a mild blushing bout though and we seize that very opportunity to ask her which of her co-stars/directors is ideal dating material. Sportingly she quips, “All of them!” “They are all suitable in their own way,” she says amidst helpless giggles. “Imran is loyal, a good person and honest. Ranbir is fun; he is super duper rich and very talented. And he can be nice, well sometimes. He is also one of my best friends. Punit is very talented and cute. He works very hard. And Cyrus is funny and a good friend. Abhay is a rebel. He is so intelligent and he has a mind of his own and he is the most talented person I’ve ever worked with. So yes, all of them have good qualities that attract me. But you know what would really attract me at this point? An 8-pack bod!”

She guffaws and also admits she doesn’t know anyone who has an 8 pack. About her kind of man, Sonam says, “He should be faithful. I’m conservative and believe marriage is for keeps.” Does her I Hate Luv Stories director Puneet Malhotra make the cut? “He’s a part of my friends circle. None of us has the time nor the inclination to get into a relationship now,” says Sonam.

Her looks, her impeccable style statements are much talked about (she's currently labelled Bollywood's best dressed). So much so that her style quotient is more often in the limelight than her acting. Does that bother her? “It's an add on to my acting ability,” she answers coolly. “I've got all acting roles. I'm looked at as an actor rather than a glamour doll.” But because of her “image” being glamorous, her roles also bank on it, she explains.

She doesn’t plan to be more prolific with her films. Is Sonam going the Aamir Khan way? “I’m just following my own path. My films take time. So, I’ll do only two or three a year,” she states. The young achiever is modest about her feats, and adds, “It’s about being at the right place at the right time; being dedicated, honest, having a lot of goodwill and listening to your parents as they want the best for you. I was born and brought up in this industry. I don’t know how it is to be a banker’s daughter.”