‘I’m not worried about being overshadowed’

After several South blockbusters, Ileana D'Cruz talks about her Bollywood debut with a two-heroine film, Barfi!

Ileana D'Cruz is no stranger to the silver screen, having starred in several commercial successes down South, including the Telugu Pokiri and Kick, and the Tamil Nanban. But her role in Anurag Basu's Barfi! has her crossing her fingers. As she awaits the release of her Bollywood debut on September 14, the actor talks about the difference between the glamorous roles she has played in the past, and her strong character in Barfi!.

How did you bag the role of Shruti in Barfi!?

Anurag was on the lookout for an actor to play Shruti, a girl who falls in love with a deaf and mute conman. He came across some of my work, got in touch with my agent and we eventually met. Within an hour, he had offered me the role. He told me that he had found his Shruti, and that it's up to me if I want to do this role. I was a bit hesitant because I hadn't envisioned a Bollywood debut in a film as unconventional as this. At first, it seemed like a risk because it's neither a romantic comedy, nor an action entertainer — like the films I'm used to down in the South. Finally, I decided to take the path I'd never taken before.

A lot of actors have started their careers in the South and made their way to Bollywood. Was this part of your plan?

I was shy as a young girl. Being in the limelight, or becoming an actor was not on my agenda. But everything happened fast. First, I landed a few ads, then I got an offer for a movie and, before I knew it, I'd done several films. I've never had my plans etched out. With Barfi!, the right offer just came along so I decided to go with the flow.

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