How Ileana D'Cruz has made her mark in Bollywood with Barfi!

Barfi! isn’t the kind of film that a debutante would chose as her first venture to enter the Hindi film industry, but Ileana D’Cruz took her chances. Being the highest paid actress of Southern film industry she perhaps did step out of her comfort zone when she decided to take up a role in which her character gracefully steps aside, and helps the guy she is in love with find love from another girl. [caption id=“attachment_461280” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Courtesy: ibn live[/caption] The greatest risk was perhaps being part of a film that already had Priyanka Chopra in a meaty role, and Ranbir Kapoor playing the lead. Had it been any other newcomer she might have gone unnoticed, but Ileana not only won hearts with her sharp features and dreamy eyes, she also managed to be remembered for a nuanced, balanced performance. Bringing magic onscreen with bike ride scenes though forests,  a silent awkward kiss being shared and her character being a wife torn inside, and as unruffled as a smooth sea on the surface, Ileana definitely made an impression. And now that she had won hearts win her performance, she has also bagged two more films with the production house that made Barfi! “It is really exciting to have a new set of audience who will be watching me. I will be spending some time with the industry to get a hang of it,” she told CNN IBN. Not only audiences, Ileana has won the hearts of veteran film actors as well. Amitabh Bachchan recently tweeted: “..In ‘Barfi’, the lovely Ileana d’Cruz in her debut for Hindi film… such a mature and balanced performance, many congratulations,”. Lara Dutta also wrote on the microblogging site: “Thoroughly enjoyed ‘Barfi!’ this evening! Had a good old-fashioned weep at the cinema. Superlative performances by Ranbir, PC (Priyanka Chopra) and Ileana,”. However, Ileana said was very skeptical about the role initially. “I was initially very worried as I was not sure if I could carry it off. I am a westernised girl. When I heard that my role was set in the 1970s, I was even more worried, as their way of thinking and behaving is different. I couldn’t have even taken inspiration from any of the other films or characters. But Anurag Basu guided me throughout and today I am completely in love with the way he has made the entire film and shaped my role. He was so enamoured with the entire film and I was incredibly afraid to let him down.” she added.