I am not a diva and don’t demand ‘big roles’ only: Housefull 4 actor Elena Fernandes
Half Peruvian, half Indian, reads model-actor Elena Fernandes’ Instagram bio. Recently seen in Housefull 4 in a small role, Elena has previously been a part of Kapoor & Sons (2016) and Badla that came out earlier this year. Talking about how it has been for her in Bollywood, she says, “Kapoor & Sons was my first step into Bollywood, and will always be my favourite. I followed that up with other films. In my next, I actually speak Hindi, so I am looking forward to that. There are web projects, too, but nothing beats films. That feeling of being on a massive set, and seeing yourself on the big screen... nothing tops that really.” Many female actors of non-Indian ethnicities in have talked about getting restricted to a certain kind of role because of it. Did it prove to be a hindrance for Elena?
“I think people can appreciate the fact that I can act. Maybe, (it could be a hindrance since) sometimes my Hindi might not be on point, but I can act, that’s the fundamental of it. You have workshops, which give you enough time to focus on Hindi. Sometimes it’s a battle, so you make them have the vision to think outside the box. I remind them that I am an actor. Hindi is always a work in progress. If I can deliver on acting, that is the only thing that should matter,” explains Elena.
While her contemporaries can get demanding for more prominent parts, Elena, who has only done small parts so far, is unperturbed. The actor doesn’t have such conditions for now. “I am not the kind of person who demands a lead alongside. Some say, ‘A big role or nothing for me’, but everything is a stepping stone. You can’t run before you can walk. People are aware of who I am. I am easy to work with, and not a diva. I don’t say, ‘No, I won’t be next to this female actor’. I am focusing on my craft. It doesn’t matter that I do only blockbuster films.”
Rishabh Suri