She debuted as the love interest of a super cop in Dabangg (2010). Thirteen years on, life has come full circle for Sonakshi Sinha, who now leads from the front as a tough-as-nails cop in Dahaad. Her character Anjali Bhaati, however, couldn’t be more different from the gregarious, can-do-it-all on-screen cops that Dabangg’s success spawned. Sinha’s act instead relies on realism, and challenges the stereotype of macho cops. “The feedback that I have redefined the way cops are portrayed is a huge compliment. You have to wait for the right role to come along. I felt underutilised many times, but then at other times, I also felt I was on the right track,” she smiles, the spotlight firmly on her as the series continues to win praise.

Sonakshi Sinha plays a fierce cop in Dahaad, also starring Gulshan Devaiah