Having got a winning debut in Bollywod with 'Barfi!', Ileana D’Cruz is definitely on cloud nine and she is all set to keep the tempo going, having signed two more movies from the same production house.
“It is really exciting to have a new set of audience who will be watching me. I will be spending some time with the industry to get a hang of it,” she says.
Unlike most actors, her introduction to Bollywood is not with a typical glamorous role. Play a role of a Bengali beauty in 'Barfi!', she had her share of skepticism. “I was initially very worried as I was not sure if I could carry it off. I am a westernised girl. When I heard that my role was set in the 1970s, I was even more worried, as their way of thinking and behaving is different. I couldn’t have even taken inspiration from any of the other films or characters. But Anurag Basu guided me throughout and today I am completely in love with the way he has made the entire film and shaped my role. He was so enamoured with the entire film and I was incredibly afraid to let him down.”
Having met actors from the B-Town, Ileana feels that every actor has his or her own way of working. “I always liked Ranbir’s acting. He has got a tremendous screen presence and Priyanka Chopra is known for her intense performances. Working with both of them with such a different role is what mattered to me the most. We didn’t rely on the dialogues as we really don’t speak much in the film. The whole experience was completely different as everything was underplayed,” she explained.
Now that Bollywood has given her a warm welcome, the latest news is that Ileana will be giving priority to Bollywood. “I am completely against the idea of dividing these two industries. I am currently working for Bollywood which has been in dominance for a long time. Coming from South, I think it is amazing for this industry to accept me whole heartedly, but I have tremendous respect for the Southern industry which accepted me when I was pretty much a nobody. I didn’t even know the language nor did I know anything about acting or dancing. They shaped me as an actress and as a person. It is completely disrespectful if I say, I don’t want to do south films anymore. How can I not accept movies which are so colourful, full of life where I get to play larger than life characters?,” she asserts.
Brushing aside rumours that she was lying low for sometime before 'Barfi!', Ileana clarifies. “I never felt the lull. I have always been working. If there was a gap, it is only because the films did not release at the right time. I haven’t had a proper break for the last six years. I feel fortunate with work coming along my way and only hope for the best and I am glad that I have my entire family supporting me,” she says.