Sanober Kabir

Sanober Kabir
Sanober - Not all song and dance

''I prefer dark men. The tanned look turns me on. I prefer someone older than me.''
Singer, dancer, actress... not many people in the entertainment industry have so many talents. Many know Sanober Kabir as another 'item girl', but how many know that she actually sings the songs in which she features? Singing is her passion and she wants to carve a niche for herself as a singer. Sanober now reveals some other facets of her charming self.Childhood dreamsThe conversation begins with her childhood dreams. "I was never a strong student academically. My interests always lay towards music and dance.

I never wanted to grow up to be a doctor or an engineer. I always wanted to be in the field of entertainment, be it acting or singing," says Sanober quite emphatically.Current phase of my lifeWith a clear focus in life, Sanober went ahead to act in films and music videos. More than films, it was her dance moves that drew attention. On the current trend of music videos and where she sees herself in the crowd, she says, "What happens is that a lot of time what I do is mistaken as an item number and people start labelling me as an item girl. This really upsets me, because they don't know that I sing my own songs and feature in my own music videos. It's a pre-conceived notion that if you look a certain way, you are a good dancer, look nice and have a proper figure, then people think that you probably can't sing. People should look at the entire package.

The vocal chords maybe as good as their dance moves or as their dress sense. In fact, nowadays even singers like Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan are concentrating on appearances. But primarily, they are singers and not item girls or guys. For the time being, acting is out. It demands a lot of time and I do not have even 10 days at a stretch to spare, but episodic roles are fine."I prefer dark menWhat does she seek in her Prince Charming? "Nobody is perfect. But he may be a little more perfect for me. He should be compatible, someone with emotional drive. Being rich is not as important as being ambitious. Because eventually only such people become successful. He should have a good sense of humour. I know it sounds cliched but one needs a sense of humour. We are so stressed out in life that at the end of the day you need someone who can lift your spirits and make you laugh. Besides, I prefer dark men. The tanned look turns me on. I somehow am not too attracted to white, fair men. I prefer someone older than me, as I believe that men mature slowly (laughs). I don't see myself having a good, decent conversation with a guy of my age."

The search is still on..."Often it happens that you think you have found the perfect man but later realise a few traits are not what you were looking for. And for some reasons, internal or external, things don't work out. So these people end up being your friends. They are really good guys, but you are talking about spending the rest of your lives with that guy, so he better be damn good (grins). It's not something you would compromise on, it's not a pair of jeans or a dress." So, is the search still on? "Not particularly searching, but yes, if someone comes along, then I will definitely consider"I will marry because I want to"If it has to happen, it will," she says philosophically. But does she believe in marriage? "Eventually, yes. But I am amazed that in India people still go for arranged marriages. Anywhere else in the world even if you were to propose that concept people would be baffled. In India, not only do these marriages take place, but they also work! For me it would be a guy whom I will choose. But I won't make a compromise, just because I have become of certain age or I have achieved so much; I am not going to do it just because I should. I will marry, because I want to"I think live-in relationships are..."I don't believe in live-in relationships. It kills the romance. Mystery is a very important part of romance, and if you are living-in with someone, the person knows everything about you. A little bit of suspense is very good. To keep the romance alive, the element of surprise has to be there. If I am living-in with someone, everything is out in the open. Eventually the romance dies out."My family, my lifeSanober's dad was a child actor who later moved on to producing films. Her mother is a designer who has designed for top actresses like Sharmila Tagore, Sreedevi, Madhuri Dixit, Tabu and others. For Sanober, her family is her life. She says, "We are an extremely close knit family. I travel with my mom wherever I go.

We are always together, my brother, my dad... we are all very close. I find it strange when I meet people who are not close to their families. I think the love of a mother or a father is the most selfless love you can get. Your friends like you because you are good at this or good at that, but parents love you irrespective of everything. They love you for who you are. I am who I am because of my family. If ever I have to choose between family and career, it would be family, without a doubt. I am ready to sit at home for the rest of my life but not lose my family." Very few people know that besides her parents' film connections, Sanober has other relatives in the industry as well. Veteran actor Raza Murad is Sanober's maternal uncle while actress Sonam is her first cousin.If not a singer, actress, dancer...She says sheepishly, "I don't know yaar , I really don't know. Maybe something to do with food. I love eating so I would have opened a restaurant or something. Or something within the hospitality industry. Or a production house. I do want to start a production company in the next 2 years, make television programmes and other related things."There's more to meHere it is from the horse's mouth, "I do not have a big group of friends; only a few close ones. I think one cannot live without friends.

I have learnt tabla for 2 years. I am a foodie. I love to eat. I love travelling as well. This year I plan to visit Egypt."Sanober... 10 years down the line"Married, definitely... hopefully (grins). Have kids. But I will still be working. It won't be with the same intensity as it is as of now, because once you have family responsibilities you have to compromise on your career. But, I will still be around."To all those who want to make it big"Nothing comes easy. Hard work is the key. However, the atmosphere is very receptive today. With thousands of T.V. channels and so many shows, it's not that difficult to get a break. But it's not easy. Abhishek Bachchan also struggled before he could establish himself as an actor. Small-town people see glamour on television. They see actors and actresses in beautiful make-up and stunning clothes and they feel this is the place to be, but no, there is lot of slogging involved. We have worked in testing conditions without food and water and 24 hours of travelling. Unless they are really intent and confident about making it in the industry, they should not dream. Nothing comes without a price. There is a flipside to everything," Sanober signs off.