In Lootera (2013), Sinha delivered a masterclass in vulnerability. Playing Pakhi, a woman dying of tuberculosis and heartbreak, she moved away from the loud, sassy archetypes to a quieter, tragic romance. It remains her most critically acclaimed romantic arc, proving she could carry a love story solely on emotional weight rather than comedic timing.
For years, Sonakshi was linked with her Rowdy Rathore co-star, . The paparazzi had a field day with their on-set camaraderie. However, unlike her film characters who fall fast and hard, Sonakhi remained stoic, repeatedly dismissing these rumors as professional friendship.