“I am free-spirited” – Ileana D’Cruz

By Screen Weekly -

September 5, 2012 - 3:20 AM IST

It took only the trailer of her upcoming film Barfi! To make the industry sit up and take notice of Ileana Dâ€™cruz. Hereâ€™s how she managed

“I am free-spirited” – Ileana D’Cruz

to do just that!

Launch Vehicle

My characterâ€™s name is Shruti and she plays the role of a Bengali girl in Barfi! . Honestly, I canâ€™t reveal much about what I am doing in the film or Iâ€™ll give away

the plot, but all I can say is that Shrutiâ€™s character is a blend of everything. She is a headstrong girl and yet, very emotional. There is an aura of innocence about her. In

her quest to explore the world, she goes through a life-changing event, which changes her perspective about love and relationships.

Casting Coup

The casting process for Barfi! was very simple. It wasnâ€™t anything like what I had imagined it to be, because casting in a Hindi film is a very strenuous process. I

thought there would be a number of screen tests and auditions but in reality, I didnâ€™t have to give any. My agent told me that director Anurag Basu was looking out for

someone for the role of Shruti. We met at his office and discussed the character at length. I met him the next day to discuss the script in detail and was immediately signed

on for the film. I remember Anurag saying, â€œHey, I think I have found my Shruti.â€ (Laughs).

Stepping Stone

I was born in Mumbai. Later, I shifted to Goa and stayed there for about seven years. My family shifted back to Mumbai for a couple of years but things didnâ€™t work out.

So we moved back to Goa. Meanwhile, I gained a foothold in films down South and have been acting there for the past six years. Some people think that I did modelling

before joining films. But I was never a model. I began my career as an actress. Although Iâ€™ve toyed with the idea of doing Bollywood films, I didnâ€™t have a burning desire

to be a Hindi film actress. Nothing was planned. For me, to do a Hindi film, my only criteria was that the script should be good. And here I am waiting for the release of my

first film. Itâ€™s destiny, really.

First Shot

We did a short schedule in Darjeeling but it didnâ€™t quite shape up the way we wanted to as the weather worked against us. I consider the schedule in Mumbai as my initial

days of shooting. Anurag has always been very clear in his head of what he wants from his actors, but it took me a while to get used to his style of working. My first shot

was a difficult, emotional scene. It was a nerve-wracking experience but ultimately the scene was beautifully shot. After that, I blindly trusted Anurag.

Stumbling Block

The character of Shruti is completely opposite to me in real life. She dresses differently. She wore sarees most of the times and carrying that off was very difficult. I am

more of a free-spirited woman and portraying emotions was a real challenge for me as well. I was underplaying everything.

Lessons Learnt

I think I learnt how to be patient. It took me a while to understand how Bollywood functions. There were times when I used to wonder if Iâ€™d ever be able to grasp the

essence of the character. Slowly, steadily and with Anuragâ€™s help, I got into the mode.

Matinee Idols

I donâ€™t have any idols as such, but have a whole list of actresses that I admire for their work and Kajol pretty much tops the list.

Future Projects

I am in the process of signing up a couple of films. I am not at liberty to talk about it, however. But fingers crossed!

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