Ileana D’ Cruz and the quest for cinematic glory

Since making her debut in Barfi alongside the compelling duo of Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor several years ago, actor Ileana D’Cruz has come a long way in the fickle world of Hindi cinema, colloquially known as Bollywood.

By Omair Alavi
August 25, 2017

Ileana D’ Cruz is set to unleash her considerable acting prowess in Milan Luthria’s upcoming crime caper, Baadshaho,
opposite Ajay Devgn.

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The actor from India speaks to Instep about her upcoming film, Baadshaho, her reticence over signing non-challenging roles and working with Fawad Khan.

Since making her debut in Barfi alongside the compelling duo of Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor several years ago, actor Ileana D’Cruz has come a long way in the fickle world of Hindi cinema, colloquially known as Bollywood.

Bold and beautiful in equal vein, Cruz is set to unleash her considerable acting prowess in Milan Luthria’s upcoming crime caper, Baadshaho. To be released by HKC Entertainment this Eid – it will give competition to Pakistani productions like Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Na Maloom Afraad 2 but Cruz is not fazed by the competition and feels there is enough meat in it to entice the audience.

With the film emerging soon, Instep Today spoke to the Mubarakaan actor about her career, the process of choosing roles and cross-border affections…

Instep: What was your reaction when you were approached for the lead role in Baadshaho, particularly since many actors had rejected it before you?

Ileana D’Cruz: I took this role as a challenge because the character offered to me was complex as well as based on an actual person. That very factor gave me a margin to perform on my own because I didn’t want to look or sound like Maharani Gayatri Devi. That’s the reason why I chose not to take any reference to make the character my own.

Instep: How did you prepare yourself for the action scenes in Baadshaho?

Ileana D’Cruz: We have a few action scenes but I had to look like royalty in most of the scenes. There were times when I didn’t want to continue with the shooting but those were limited. There was a scene that we were shooting in an actual prison and for me, that was the most difficult one, as I felt claustrophobic as well as mentally and physically challenged due to the heat and dust. I had to fall in that sequence as well and trust me, in that condition, I had a proper fall that had a daunting affect on me!

Instep: And then there were the intimate scenes …

Ileana D’Cruz: Those scenes were a requirement and that’s why I agreed to go ahead with them. These scenes will take the story forward as they will show how much the two characters (played by Ajay and myself) love each other. The sequences were shot aesthetically and the audience will not feel uncomfortable after watching them.

Instep: What is it with you and roles rooted in the sixties and the seventies? First Rustom and now Baadshaho…

Ileana D’Cruz: It isn’t intentional, it’s coincidental. The story of both the films is/was based in the past but I try to do justice to my character.

Instep: There was a two-year gap between Happy Ending and Rustom. Any specific reason?

Ileana D’Cruz: That wasn’t intentional too, trust me. I don’t do a film just for the heck of doing a film; if the role isn’t challenging for me, I prefer to stay out rather than say yes to the makers.

Instep: Most of the leading men you have starred with started their careers when you were 4 years old. Doesn’t that make things awkward?

Ileana D’Cruz: (Laughs) Thank God I wasn’t an ardent Bollywood film viewer when young. I knew these actors but didn’t know they would be working with me one day. Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan are tremendously gifted people with no attitude; that’s the reason why I take them as characters, not actors who are 2 decades older to me.

Instep: How difficult has your journey been in Bollywood, particularly since you came from the Telugu film industry?

Ileana D’Cruz: Bollywood has a massive sense of acceptance and people from all over India can come and work here. It can be a challenging journey but not if you are willing to work hard and give it your best shot.

Instep: What is it like to work with people from Pakistan?

Ileana D’Cruz: I haven’t had the chance to work with any actors from Pakistan but yes, I did a TV commercial with Fawad Khan and found him to be a nice person to work with.

Instep: Do you know that you have a number of fans in Fawad Khan’s country?

Ileana D’Cruz: I am truly humbled to know that I have fans in Pakistan. I consider myself very lucky that my films release in countries other than India although when we are on set, we only think of catering to the diverse Indian public. I am really touched by the love and affection of my fans from across the border.

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