How Barfi suddenly brought Ileana D’Cruz to Bollywood, know the story of her unexpected journey
An unexpected proposal
Ileana D’Cruz recently said that her Bollywood debut was not planned with Barfi.
One day, she got a call from Anurag Basu’s team, and everything changed without warning.
Such an opportunity is unlikely to come again in a career.
Got a break from South
At that time, Ileana was already working in the South Indian film industry.
Masala commercial films were expected, but the script of Barfi was in a different pattern.
When the offer came, she was initially shocked as to what style of film it was.
Barfi changed everything
Barfi was a limit-pushing commercial film with niche storytelling.
Anurag Basu’s unconventional style and Ranbir Kapoor–Priyanka Chopra’s acting made this project a discovered gem.
Ileana also felt that this role was special for her.
Anurag Basu’s cleverness
Ileana said in the NDTV interview that Anurag Basu recorded a candid conversation with a handycam to convince her.
Later, he said, “You’re my Shruti.” The decision was finalized as soon as he heard this.
Sometimes actors just need the right inspiration.
First hesitation
Ileana thought acting was a job, not a part of any long-term plan.
She thought she would earn a name in the South before coming to Bollywood.
But beautiful scripts and creative teams made her path straight.
Shooting experience
Shooting in Barfi forced Ileana to face her emotions.
The demand for silent expressions, subtle body language and quirky comic timing brought out her acting skills.
This training came in handy in future projects.
Her film journey now
13 years later, Ileana not only has a hobby, but also two children – Koa Phoenix Dolan and Keanu Rafe Dolan.
Her performance in recent films like Do Aur Do Pyaar was also appreciated.
She has handled the balance of motherhood and acting very well.
Challenges of personal life
Ileana said that paparazzi photography with children in India seems unsettling to her.
She does not want to bring her children into the media mess, as it can be confusing for them. As a parent, she has set her own limits.
Way forward
Niche films like Barfi gave Ileana the confidence of versatility.
Even now, her preference has been towards unconventional stories.
She saw the opportunities that came suddenly and learnt that the key to growth is to welcome the challenges correctly instead of planning.
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