Reportedly Sonam Kapoor is in love! Buzz is that she is smitten by Punit Malhotra, the director of her upcoming film – I Hate Luv Stories. What irony!

There’s a strong buzz and everyone on the sets of the film seems to be aware of the budding romance between the actress and the director.

A website quotes a source as saying, “Punit was constantly taking Sonam’s photos and telling her how gorgeous she looked. Whenever they weren’t shooting, the two would go out and try new places for dinner. In fact, Sonam even told her sister Rhea about Punit.”

Both Sonam and Punit were single previously and they hit it off really well during their New Zealand schedule. Ever since then the lovebirds have become inseparable.

If not films, awards are coming all the way to Sonam Kapoor’s credit. After a series of award, Sonam Kapoor has now been nominated for the fourth Asian Film Awards. She has been nominated in the best newcomer category for her role in Delhi-6. Under the same category, four contenders from China and Korea are nominated.

Daughter of popular actor Anil Kapoor, Sonam made her filmy debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya opposite Ranbir Kapoor in 2007. She has also been the face of L’Oreal. Sonam posed for many fashion magazines and is considered to be a brand face.

The award ceremony will be held in March 22.

Let’s see if Sonam could add one more feather to her hat.

Anil Kapoor declares himself a proud father of a daughter Sonam Kapoor as according to him Sonam has kept a tap of the traditions and is following them religiously.

Yes, Sonam stepped into the shoes of her father by purchasing a brand new Audi car whose 1988 model was purchased by papa Kapoor.

Our source informs, “Sonam had purchased a brand new Audi car and the novel thing is that the actress had invested her own hard earned money for her new car. Both father Anil and daughter Sonam was present at the launch in Delhi.”

Source goes on, “Anil Kapoor stated at the event that he was the first Bollywood actor in the industry to buy an Audi car in the year 1988 and it feels good that today my daughter is also buying an Audi and that too by her own earnings.”

Just if you’ve imagined Sonam Kapoor to be one of those star kids who’s getting everything on a platter, think again.

The actress is working real hard to get into the skin of her character in Ayesha, a film that her father Anil Kapoor is producing. Mid-Day reports Abhay Deol and Sonam Kapoor are attending voice modulation workshops to ‘get intonation and diction right’.

“Sonam plays the role of a high-society girl from Delhi. It’s a first person account and a chick flick/romcom like Clueless and 13 Going On 30, told from the girl’s point of view,” the paper quotes a source as having said.

Working on Sonam’s voice is popular Vagina Monologues actress Jayati Bhatia. The paper reports that Sonam Kapoor attends the workshop every day for almost five hours.

While the actress confirmed to the paper that she was attending workshops for her part in Ayesha, she refused to divulge any details about it.

Ayesha is to be directed by Rajshri Ojha and is said to be an adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Emma.

She’s just two films old at 24. Togged in a trendy black jumpsuit, she flashes her trademark mischievous grin that reaches all the way to her eyes. Sonam Kapoor epitomises today’s youth. Here’s the perky and perceptive actor at her chirpy best.

Have you finished unwrapping your birthday (June gifts yet? Which is best one of all?
The best gift was that dad flew into Mumbai from Los Angeles for four days and then we went together to Macau. His visit was supposed to be a surprise but in all her excitement, my manager Nisha just let it slip out. But that was very sweet of him. I got some 500 books and the most delicious home-baked carrot cake from Monika, my publicist.

At 24, how would you sum up your personality?
I was born and brought up in the film industry. I have seen dad go through a lot – I had the ringside view of his struggle and stardom. He was never aware of his super-stardom, work has been worship for him. That experience, together with my mom and sis Rhea, keeps me well-grounded. I certainly don’t have any false sense of self importance.

I am very hard-working. I am like the pit bull – I never give up on anything. Like I get claustrophobic in lifts but I made sure I rode up and down in the elevator from the 38th floor hotel room in Macau recently with a brave face. I am scared of going underwater, so I will take to deep-sea diving.

The easiest perhaps is facing the camera? Your recent photo spreads have been scintillating.
Facing the camera for films surely comes easy to me because that is such a great escape. You are playing someone else! But I hate still camera. I overcame that apprehension working with Mr Bhansali when we had hundreds of photoshoots. I also don’t look at myself in the mirror, I get self-critical and self-conscious.

We heard that you will be soon busying yourself in a workshop with your co-stars in Ayesha.
Ayesha is not a pure love story, it is about six or seven friends played by Ira Dubey, Amita , Lisa, Cyrus Sahukar, Arunoday Singh and Abhay Deol. Since the film spans over 63 days, we all have to really be friends before the film goes on floors. So if we have to work together for nearly four months we should have mutual trust too. Now that Abhay is back from New York, we can hold the workshops.

How is it working for the first time with a lady director, Rajshri Ojha?
Oh, we keep discussing back stories for every character in Ayesha. I can be annoying with all my questions to the director. I used to badger Mr Bhansali and Mr Mehra too. So Rajshri is no exception – at times she asks me when I will stop asking questions! (laughs) As for women directors , I think they make films most beautifully. I am a big Mira Nair fan because she uses space with her actors so effectively.

What’s Ayesha like? Do you identify with her?
Ayesha is the Indianised version of Jane Austen’s character, as you know already. Ayesha is a motherless girl who has taken care of the family. She wants to be in control – she likes everything to be perfect. She’s smart and perceptive. But she challenges everybody which makes her self-destructive in a way.

How and why did Abhay Deol come into the picture?
Abhay is a brilliant actor. He can be fun and he has the confidence to carry off this role. He is a very secure actor, he knows who he is. He suits the role of Knightley aka Arjun who is a very sorted-out guy and he is at ease with Ayesha as a woman of substance.

So is Ayesha anti-marriage? What’s your view about the institution of matrimony?
Ayesha definitely feels that marriage is not a merger. I am a romantic, so I too feel marriages cannot be arranged, but since I also know that my parents love me so selflessly, I will be smart about bringing home someone whom I love and of whom they approve. I will have to do a balancing act.

You are a Jane Austen fan. What do you admire about her heroines?
All her protagonists are independent, self respecting women. They read, write and play music. They have a definite sense of self-entitlement. And I am quite a feminist, so I love her work and most of my favourite authors are women writers like Sylvia Plath.

Are you doing Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Sahibaan?
Mehra speaks to me about so many films, Sahibaan is one of them. Let us see which one of these works out. But I want to with him for sure. He is extremely realistic – a good man and a great filmmaker. I want to play characters of conflict – like the ones in his films.

You have been signed up by Dharma Productions for I Hate Love Stories opposite Imran Khan. So are you prepared to get away from the traditional mould and don a bikini if “the role demands”?
Punit Malhotra is the young, earnest director of the film. It’s a young man’s sweet romantic take. This will be a lovely film for Imran and me. It is a love story, a date flick. As for wearing a bikini – well I wear it in real life and I have worn angarkhas, salwar-kameez, bandana, jeans, skirts, gunjee – whatever it takes. If the character I play is on the beach – the correct gear would have to be a bikini. (squeals away naughtily).

What kind of roles are you being offered these days?
Oh absolutely anything – my sister is going through umpteen scripts offered to me. It is flattering that most of these are strong women roles.

Having been an assistant director, when will the director in you surface?
At present, I am still evolving as an actor. But the writer in me is wanting to surface. I don’t know if I can be a good director because I am not so good at dealing with people. I would rather write screenplays.

In the delicate world of Bollywood, where words like ‘friendship’ and ‘love’ are mere lip service, Sonam Kapoor and Amrita Rao are two lucky actresses who have found a charming friend in each other’s company!
News has it that Anil Kapoor, the producer of ‘Shortkut’ has left no stone unturned to ensure ‘Ayesha’ and ‘Shortkut’ get personal attention. Well, the versatile actor recently treated Sonam and Amrita to a lavish dinner as both the actresses adore him as a fatherly figure.

Sonam insisted dad Anil to consider a project with both actresses as Sonam is keen to work with Amrita. According to latest buzz, both Sonam and Amrita are great friends and love hanging out together. Recently, when an ailing Amrita was unable to attend Sonam’s birthday bash, the lissome actress sent a cake to Sonam.

Well, another common factor that binds both the actresses is designer Manish Malhotra, the stylist for ‘Shortkut’. Both actresses recently went on a shopping spree and ended up shelling a huge moolah on designer accessories!

Well, here are two B-town chicks who are thick friends!

Sonam Kapoor seen here with papa Anil Kapoor and brother, much before she became a successful actress in Bollywood. Anil Kapoor’s film career was at its peak that time.

Sonam Kapoor with red hair band

Sonam Kapoor with red hair band at a brithday party. Growing up to be a bollywood star!

Sonam Kapoor with papa Anil on a foreign trip.

Sonam Kapoor with the dashing Arjun Rampal at the India International Film Awards at 2009 at Macau, China

Sonam Kapoor performs Masakalli from Delhi6 movie at IIFA 2009

Sonam-Kapoor walks the ramp-at-IIFA-2009 Fashion Extravaganza

She may be only two films old in Bollywood but actress Sonam Kapoor is already creating waves globally as she is the only Indian to be featured in The Hollywood Reporter’s special issue devoted to Asia.

“Next Generation: Asia Class of 2009″, a journal by the trade bible which is featuring Asia’s new generation in filmmaking for the first time has selected Sonam as the only Indian representative.

Sonam, who celebrates her 24th birthday on Tuesday is thrilled with the news. “Yes, it is pleasing to be recognized by Hollywood so early in my career, but my success is due to the enormous faith that the Indian film industry has placed in me and the great love that I have been lucky to get from my audiences,” Sonam said in a statement.

The article about “the next generation of leaders in the rapidly evolving Asian entertainment sector” prominently features Sonam and the actress has also been presented with a certificate signed by Eric Mika, the publisher of Hollywood Reporter.

But Sonam is in no hurry to migrate to Hollywood.

“My heart is in India, and the films we make here can stand comparison with those made anywhere in the world, including Hollywood,” the actress said.

“So if and when there is an offer from the West, I will judge it on the same criteria that I choose scripts – whether I believe in the story, the project and the people involved or not; and not just because it has come from Hollywood,” Sonam added.