After making waves in Telugu movies in the South, Ileana D’Cruz has made a smooth transition to Bollywood over the past few years. The actress, who will next be seen in Rustom , which tells true story of a naval commander who killed his wife’s lover, chats about films and dealing with celebrity status
You act with Akshay Kumar inRustom.Tell us about your role.
After Barfi , this is the most emotional role I've played. I'm very proud of what I've done in the film. Considering that the story is based on real events, I didn't do much preparation-wise except for looking at life in the 1950s when the incidents occurred. I think I just kind of surrendered myself to the role because it is a very spontaneously emotional film.
What kind of roles appeal to you?
I have done a variety of roles in Bollywood as of now. In Barfi, my role was very soft and sentimental. In the films after that my roles have been very commercial. What appeals to me more than anything is that the role must be significant, no matter how big or small. Secondly, I like to be challenged. The role I play in Rustom was very challenging for me because there is so much emotion involved and it is not one of those roles where you can dab glycerine in your eye and start crying.
Social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat make you more open accessible to your fans – is that a good thing or a bad thing?
It is a good thing but it can be very demanding as I am somebody who likes my space. I like that with social media, you can choose how much you want to reveal. If there is an issue that requires clarification, at least you can turn to social media. You know it's coming from the horse's mouth.
People always have a larger-than-life picture of what an actor's life might be like. Thoughts?
I think it's really untrue. I don’t like being called a celebrity. So much so that I find it very uncomfortable looking at myself on the screen. For me, it's just a job even though I love it. A lot of attention is on the way I dress and I have to make sure that I look good all the time. But that comes with being an actor. I think it is like any other job. I've got my great days and I've got my bad days.
What are your hobbies?
I like sketching a lot but I don't do much of it because with all the shootings I don't really have the time. I love to sing. Music has been something very ingrained in me. It is in my blood. For me a very chilled out day would be me on my couch or cooking, sitting with one or two friends watching TV or films over a glass of wine. I like watching romantic comedies and animation. I also enjoy cartoons like The Flintstones. Tom and Jerry and The Smurfs.
Comfort clothing?
It honestly depends on my mood. I'd love to be in a set of track pants all day long.
