onam Bajwa’s journey from an air hostess to actress: Do you know that the well-known actress was an air-hostess before joining the film industry?

There is no going into a safe house around the fact that actress Sonam Bajwa is among the best actresses if not the best actress in the Punjabi film industry. Having made her debut in Manmord Sidhu’s ‘Best of Luck’ (2013), Bajwa has improved across facets on the back of her 13-film career in Punjab.

In an interview with actress Surveen Chawla for Famously Filmfare Punjabi, Bajwa had talked about her goal of becoming Miss India while working as an air hostess in Mumbai. Bajwa, who was inspired by the likes of Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen and Priyanka Chopra representing India, didn’t consider herself beautiful enough due to her skin tone.

“I never told them [parents] about this [modelling aspiration]. I never considered myself beautiful enough to reveal my ambition of becoming Miss India to anyone. I purposely took up a job in Mumbai citing a slight possibility of contesting for the pageant. Especially coming to Mumbai would have been tough otherwise.

“I told my mother that my aircraft is going to Paris for maintenance. Since I had paid holidays up my sleeve, I opened up on giving auditions for Miss India. She was a bit surprised but I managed to convince her somehow. They were of course not happy as no one in the family had earlier thought about Miss India or modelling.

“They wanted me to do a respectable job [doctor or engineer]. They weren’t even happy about me being an air hostess. But they eventually agreed,” Bajwa was quoted as saying on Famously Filmfare Punjabi.

Sonam Bajwa’s journey from an air hostess to actress

Bajwa, who cracked the auditions, prepared for the pageant to the best of her ability despite knowing not much about what goes into the process. Having eventually lost the contest, Bajwa was left bewildered with respect to picking one between her job and her newly-found likeness for being in front of the camera.

“I was working and had no one to guide me per se. However, I knew a few basic points regarding one’s body and walk. It was the first time that I started going to a gym. I won’t say that I prepped a lot but I was very serious and disciplined with whatever that was required of me.

“I remember crying after losing. I was like girls who don’t win end up becoming a model or actress. I wasn’t even sure of what I would do after the pageant. All I wanted to do was win Miss India. I was heartbroken,” Bajwa said.

It was after her Miss India journey that she received a call regarding a pivotal role in a Punjabi movie. Not wanting to let the opportunity go, Bajwa auditioned for the part and was subsequently selected. Rest, as they say, is history.

“I hadn’t resigned from my job after Miss India. But I started to lose interest in the job. I started enjoying being in front of the camera during the Miss India journey. However, I had no clue of what I would do in the entertainment industry.

“Amidst all the confusion, I received a call regarding a role in a Punjabi movie. They asked me to audition for the part. I casually gave the audition. I think they were running short of time. All they wanted was a Punjabi-speaking girl. That worked in my favour and that was what god had for me.

“I went back home and received another call around my selection. I informed my parents and the only reason why they were okay was because it being a Punjabi film. It all happened so quickly and that’s how I started my journey in acting,” Bajwa added.