Popular Punjabi actor Sonam Bajwa has opened up about a major turning point in her early career, revealing that she turned down several Bollywood offers because they involved kissing scenes. The actor confessed that this decision was motivated not by a personal conviction against intimate scenes, but by a deep-seated fear of public judgment and cultural expectations, particularly from her massive audience in Punjab.
In a candid conversation with Film Companion, the Carry on Jatta 3 star explained how cultural norms and the fear of disappointment influenced her professional choices.
The Fear of the Audience and Family Backlash
Sonam Bajwa expressed her profound worry over how audiences in Punjab, where she is a beloved and popular figure, would react to seeing her perform intimate scenes on screen.
“I said no to a couple of things in Bollywood because I kept wondering, Is Punjab going to be okay with it? We have that mentality that families will be watching… I was very scared to do a kissing scene back then,” Sonam shared.
She detailed the chain of self-doubt and hesitation she experienced: “I thought, ‘how are people going to respond to it? How will those who’ve made me who I am react? Will my family understand that it’s just for a film?’ I had all these questions in my mind.”
The actress admitted her hesitation stemmed from a desire to protect her image and stay loyal to her core audience, explaining that she had created certain boundaries for herself out of respect for her cultural upbringing and the people who have supported her career since the beginning.
Parents’ Approval Shifted Her Perspective
Sonam revealed that the massive internal conflict she experienced was finally resolved by a simple, honest conversation with her parents just a couple of years ago.
“A couple of years ago, I finally spoke to my mom and dad about it. They said, ‘Yes, if it’s for a film, it’s fine.’ I was so shocked. I kept thinking, Why didn’t I talk to them earlier? We make so many assumptions in our heads,” she confessed.
Their surprising and supportive response provided the clarity she needed: “I was shy to even bring it up, but they were like, Koi nahi, je film layi hai, koi chakkar nahi (It’s for a film, there’s no problem),” Sonam concluded. This parental validation ultimately liberated her from the self-imposed restrictions that had held her back from accepting certain roles.