An Ecstatic Beam Of Sunshine - Ileana D'Cruz

Spontaneous, positive, chirpy and inherently happy — no words sound better than these to describe Ileana D’Cruz. Her zest for life and love for her profession is infectious and inspiring. In a refreshingly candid conversation with Wedding Affair (WA), the talented actress Ileana D’Cruz (IDC) bares her heart.

WA: You were at the peak of your career in the Southern film industry. What made you steer your career towards Bollywood?

IDC: The shift that happened was inevitable, nothing was planned. I never wanted to be an actress in the first Ì€ place. When I began working down south, it was new but I really started to enjoy it. It was an interesting experience. When offers poured in from Bollywood, I knew at one point there will come an offer that will sound exciting. I didn’t plan anything and when ‘Barfi!’ came along, it sounded like a really good film. So, it was not a conscious plan that I made like this is going to be my debut. ‘Barfi!’ took almost two years, I never had a goto plan as far as work was concerned. It wasn’t supposed to be a big shift from South to Bollywood. It was a great film which got me immense recognition and love from people. It just turned out the way it did, I never had a plan. I have always been someone who has gone with the flow, it keeps me sane. I like the idea of not knowing what’s going to happen next.

WA: Being a rank outsider, how difficult was it for you as an actor to get into Bollywood?

IDC: I think it’s all about getting the right opportunities and choosing the right film. I have been one of those fortunate people who are presented with lots of offers. I just had to choose the right one for myself. My mom was looking after me and handling my work at that point of time. We used to discuss but at the end of the day, it was always my decision. It was tricky but I have always gone with my gut feeling and that has kind of worked for me. Even if I made a mistake, I made it wholeheartedly. The hardest part was saying yes to ‘Barfi!’, I took the longest to say yes (laughs). But it worked out really well for me.