Sonam Kapoor has won Akshay Kumar's heart. After working with the likes of Abhishek Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan and Abhay Deol, she has taken a step ahead by pairing up with Akshay Kumar.

"Sonam is very much like her mother but more so like her father," says Akshay Kumar who has worked with Anil Kapoor in films like WELCOME and TASHAN before, "I have known her family for long. Sonam is a very family orientated young lady and extremely easy to work. She has a very big heart and shows her beautiful side to everyone. Now that's a lovely quality to have."

Amongst many leading ladies that Akshay has either launched or re-established in the industry, Sonam Kapoor is the newest entrant to be paired opposite him. For someone with whom he has never shared screen space before, what kind of actor did Sonam turn out to be working with?

"She is a very sweet girl and has just played the most mature character of her career so far with a lot of passion," says Akshay, "I am very proud of her for that. I can say without a doubt that when Sonam's character cries in this film, she can really reduce you to tears."

While the man is (expectedly) all praises for his co-star, what is of interest is that he has also become quite protective of the young woman.

"Sonam is someone who is very gullible herself and I could pull her leg in seconds without her even realising. Due to that she was very true to the character that she plays in THANK YOU," smiles Akshay, "Having said that, as long as it is for the reel life, it is fine. But when it comes to real life, she is one of those women where if a man ever hurt her, I would have to kill him. Come on, she is too nice to be hurt."