A Sanjay Leela Bhansali heroine—that’s a tag Sonakshi Sinha admits she had been waiting for long. Now that it has come true, it has brought an outpouring of love. The actor is winning praise for her double roles as Rehana and Fareedan in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. “My mom [Poonam Sinha] was overwhelmed with pride. For her, it was a dream come true to see me finally become a Sanjay Leela Bhansali heroine,” she smiles.

Right now, she is soaking in the love, but it will be work calling soon. Sinha, who was shooting for a yet-untitled thriller helmed by debutant director Karan Rawal last month, will return to the set next week. “Contemporary, dark and grungy”, the thriller is worlds apart from Bhansali’s dazzling period drama. “It has been my conscious effort to choose work that people will be surprised to see me doing. It’s too early to talk about my role; all I can say is it’s an edgy and grungy story.”