There was a time when every other Bollywood release seemed to feature Sonakshi Sinha in some form leading a film, making a special appearance or lighting up a dance number. Fresh off the massive success of Dabangg, the actor quickly became one of the busiest faces in the industry. But behind the packed schedules and constant shoots, Sonakshi now says she was quietly running herself into exhaustion. Looking back at the early years of her career, the actor admitted that work completely took over her life through most of her 20s. In an exclusive chat with Hindustan Times, Sonakshi reflected on how nonstop filming and hectic schedules eventually pushed her close to burnout. Also Read: System Trailer: Sonakshi Sinha Fights Her Father, Turns Lawyer And Seeks Justice “I started working very young. I was 22 when I started and 23 when my first film released. My entire 20s went into work. I felt like I was burning out, doing more than I should be. I was constantly on the go. I would not take time off for myself or breaks in between two films. I would go from one set to another. I did double shifts at one point in time,” she said. Between her debut and the Covid-19 pandemic, Sonakshi appeared in 23 films over a span of 10 years. Alongside that, she also featured in several special appearances and dance tracks, making her one of the industry’s most visible stars during that phase. The actor shared that things only began to shift when she entered her 30s. Around 2017 and 2018, she realised she needed to slow down and create space for herself outside work. “There came a point when I said, ‘I need to make time for myself. That will help me improve as an actor as well as a person’. That’s when I started making certain changes in my life. My whole direction changed in the way I approached work, or the kind of work that I do,” Sonakshi recalled. The change is visible in her filmography too. In the six years following the pandemic, Sonakshi has worked in seven films and two web series — a far lighter schedule compared to her earlier years in the industry. Explaining how her perspective evolved with time, she added, “You learn. It doesn’t come to you automatically. At that point in time, I felt this was the way to go. Also, I lived a very protected life. For me, that was me seeing my work. I enjoyed it while I did it. But you reach a point where you realise there is more to life than just work.” Up next, Sonakshi will be seen in filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari’s courtroom drama System. The film features Sonakshi as a young lawyer taking on her own father in a high-profile murder trial. Veteran filmmaker-actor Ashutosh Gowariker plays her father, a well-known defence lawyer, while Jyotika essays the role of a court stenographer who also becomes her ally. System is scheduled to release on Amazon Prime Video on May 22.