25 June,2026 01:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Kriti Sanon and Deepika Padukone (Pics/Instagram)
Kriti Sanon stars as the glamorous Ally in Cocktail 2, a character whose free-spirited and disruptive energy has drawn comparisons to Deepika Padukone's iconic Veronica from the 2012 film. While Kriti expected the comparisons, she believes the similarities end there. The actress recently opened up about what makes Ally stand apart.
In an interview with Filmfare, she said, "Do I expect it? Yes, I do. It's kind of obvious, as I'm doing a film which is a franchise to the film that she's done before. The characters, somewhere, have a similar energy of being slightly disruptive, unhinged and free-spirited. But Ally and Veronica are so different, and I'm glad that they're different. Why would I play the same character that Deepika has already done? That doesn't make sense. That's what's fresh about Cocktail 2. It's a completely different story with completely different conflicts and different characters. Ally has her own personality, even though it may seem like it coincides somewhere. She's a completely different person from Veronica."
Talking about how actresses are often pitted against each other, she said, "I don't pay heed to it at all. If you're secure in yourself, none of it matters. These are just traction-related conversations that people use to make others feel insecure. Everyone brings something different to the table."
The actress also recalled her initial days in the industry, admitting that it was tough and frustrating when she didn't get the right opportunities. Opening up about losing work due to nepotism, she said, "Many times, you hear that you're being considered for a film and it kind of goes to someone else. Also, the question is not just nepotism. There are many actors who come from film backgrounds who are genuinely talented. Whether it's Ranbir (Kapoor) or Alia (Bhatt), they've proven themselves. They might have gotten opportunities way easier than anyone else, but they've worked hard and are super talented.
"The point is when someone gets opportunities for eight or nine years without proving themselves as an actor. That is the only part I find unfair. When you don't come from a film background, if you don't prove yourself in the first few years, you're gone. You're written off."
