Sonu Sood, who became a national hero during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown by helping migrant workers and others in need, recently shared insights about his reluctance to join politics despite receiving several high-profile offers. During the lockdown, Sonu went to great lengths to assist those stranded across the country and abroad, even mortgaging his property to fund his efforts.
In an interview with Humans of Bombay, Sonu revealed that he has been approached with significant political roles, including offers to become a Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister. “I’ve even been offered the position of Chief Minister. When I refused, they said, ‘Become the Deputy CM then.’ These were very influential people in the country who also offered me a seat in the Rajya Sabha,” he said. “They told me, ‘Take the Rajya Sabha membership. Join us; you don’t need to fight for anything in politics.’ It’s an exciting phase when such powerful people want to meet you and encourage you to make a difference in the world.”
Reflecting on these offers, Sood shared a personal philosophy: “When you start gaining popularity, you begin rising in life. But at higher altitudes, oxygen levels are lower. We want to rise, but how long you can sustain yourself up there is important.” He added, “Someone told me, ‘Big people are offering you positions like CM or Deputy CM, and you’re not accepting? Do you know how many big actors in your industry can’t even dream of achieving this, and you’re refusing?’”
However, Sonu emphasized that his decision to stay out of politics is rooted in his values. “People join politics for two reasons: to earn money or to gain power. I’m not interested in either. If it’s about helping people, I’m already doing that. Right now, I don’t need to ask anyone. If I want to help someone, regardless of their caste, language, or religion, I do it on my own. Tomorrow, I might become accountable to someone else, and that scares me. I fear losing my independence.”
Acknowledging the privileges that come with political positions, Sonu added, “I would get high security, a house in Delhi, and a significant position. Someone told me that I’d have a letterhead with a government stamp, which holds immense power. I said, ‘That sounds great, and I like hearing it. But I’m not ready right now.’ Maybe a few years down the line, I might feel differently. Who knows?”
The actor, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Fateh, concluded by expressing his deep love for cinema. “There’s still an actor-director inside me. I love this world. I love cinema. Maybe when I feel like I’ve done enough here, I’ll think about something else. But for now, I’m an actor, and I’ll continue acting and directing.”
