Ileana has the qualities of a ‘good actor’
After essaying glamorous roles in films such as Devadasu (2006), Kick (2009), and Julayi (2012) down South, actor Ileana D’Cruz, broke the mould with her Bollywood debut. In Anurag Basu’s Barfi! (2012), the 33year-old played the role of a sari-clad demure Bengali girl, which garnered appreciation from critics and audience alike. However, the actor feels that she is only changing the “formula, now and then”, and hasn’t yet cracked the art of choosing the right script.
So, how does her next film, Pagalpanti, fit into her film choices? “Films are art, and they’re subjective. Not everyone would love [Pablo] Picasso’s work. Films like Pagalpanti are genuinely funny and are meant to entertain you.They don’t require too much of your head, as they act as stress busters,” says Ileana. The film has an ensemble cast with actors like John Abraham, Arshad Warsi and Anil Kapoor in it. Excited to have worked with Kapoor,
Ileana says, “AK is my favourite co-star. On the set, he’s always encouraging people. It’s so rare to come across people who are so passionate about their work, and that rubs off on to you. He’s like a kid in a candy store. He has been working for so long, but works as if it’s his first film. I love him.”
Lack of visibility doesn’t rattle Ileana, who is happy to take things slow. She says, “I don’t want to jump into being visible. I don’t want to sound cocky, but I know that I have the qualities of a good actor. I know there’s always room for improvement, but I don’t have the fear of missing out. A film isn’t a day’s commitment. So I wouldn’t do something that doesn’t have my heart in it.”
The actor, who has spent 13 years in showbiz, still believes that she isn’t cut out for the world of glamour. “I can’t go to every party. I need to be with people I’m comfortable with. I’ve seen some girls who can do that, and that’s great. I’m an introvert. Initiating a conversation is difficult for me. I was once sitting with Robert De Niro (actor) and Martin Scorsese (filmmaker) and though I wanted to talk, all I could manage was smile and say, hello,” she recalls.
Seven years after Barfi!, Ileana’s excited for another detour. She says, “The idea of doing a hard-hitting solo heroine film is appealing. I want to do something that challenges me, which has raw emotions. I want to do a film where the focus will not be on my looks.”