That’s how Soha Ali Khan justifies her going bold for a magazine cover and also stresses why she doesn’t want to be typecast, in a chat with Chhaya Toshniwal

The youngest child in Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s family, today all of 29, says she showed signs of making it as an actor even as a kid. Soha Ali Khan reveals, “I acted in school and college plays.”

Interestingly, Soha has many releases to look forward to—Mumbai Meri Jaan (plays a TV reporter). Dil Kabaddi (film deals with marriage and sex), Mumbai Cutting ( Soha acts in one of the 10 short films), Tera Kya Hoga Johnny (also stars Neil Nitin Mukesh) and Dhoondhte Reh Jaoge (starring Kunal Khemu).

That apart, Soha has been recognised for her work in Bengali cinema (Iti Srikanta and Antar Mahal). She says, “There are not many interesting roles for women in Bollywood because it’s a hero-driven world out here. But Bengali cinema has well-etched female characters. I have an affinity towards them. I feel Bengal is home.”

Is there any kind of pressure to excel from mother and actor Sharmila Tagore? Soha says, “She wants me to get married and have kids. That is the only pressure as I’m financially settled now.”

When asked whether she is planning to tie the knot with actor and good friend Siddharth, Soha has a no comments stance.

Where her siblings—brother Saif Ali Khan and sister Saba—are concerned, Soha says, “I’m a balanced person unlike bhai (Saif) who is 10 years older than me and aapa (Saba) who is two years older. My brother is an extrovert and the life of a party whereas my sister is quiet and reserved. They are two extremes and I’m the perfect balance between them.”

What does she think of Saif’s beau Kareena Kapoor? “I’ve met Kareena a couple of times. I’ve noticed that she takes a lot of effort to spend time with my family. She is very warm. What matters most is that she makes my brother happy.”

Ask her what made her don a sexy image for a magazine cover and Soha confesses, “I didn’t want to be ‘typecast’. If my mother, who is 64 years old, doesn’t have a problem with it, I don’t think there’s anything wrong. In fact, she said ‘You should see what I did in the ’60s. This is nothing.’ My mother is very progressive.”

Nevertheless Soha adds that she’s a lot like her abba (father). “We walk in the same manner and both of us are diplomatic.”