Date: February 19, 2010
Porcelain beauty Ileana D’Cruz isn’t easily rattled. Most of her contemporaries would have been shattered after their hyped films crashed at the BO.
Not the box-office queen. Her last screen outings in Tollywood (Saleem and Rechipo) might have fizzled out at the ticket windows, but the petite star seems at peace with herself. “The poor showing of the films hasn’t affected me. My performances in both films were much appreciated and the offers continue to pour in. I am sure I’ll bounce back with bigger hits in Telugu films,” she says serenely.
That however, doesn’t explain why she needed to move out of her self-proclaimed ‘comfort zone’ (Tollywood) to sign a Tamil film with Vikram. “I have always been flooded with Tamil offers after Kedi, but I took up this project, because it sounded exciting. It’s a fantasy flick and something I haven’t tried my hand at. It’s an author-backed role that I am looking forward to,” she reasons.
Now that doesn’t mean, Ileana is giving up Telugu films altogether. She’s currently in Rajasthan shooting Shakti with NTR Junior. “Shakti’s a complete entertainer. I have a mind-blowing role in that film. Then I also have a Telugu film called Tom & Jerry with Ram, which promises to be a rocking entertainer. And I love the cartoon show of the same name too and watch it every day,” she giggles.
The screen scorcher has now joined the bandwagon of T-town stars who are promoting city mobile outlets and has reportedly been paid a phenomenal pay cheque, making her Tollywood’s highest paid female brand ambadassador. “Well, I don’t like talking about the cheque that I got for that endorsement, suffice it to say that it was a great experience doing that ad,” she says firmly.
In fact, moolah matters make the diva quite tight-lipped. For someone who supposedly takes home around Rs 1.5 crore per film in Tollywood, and who’s been paid the same amount for her Kollywood outing, Ileana doesn’t like sharing details about her monetary gains. Nor will she admit how she feels about being the highest paid female star in Tollywood and now Tamil films. “See as an actor I am supposed to do justice to the role and the film I am doing. I don’t know if I am the highest paid female star or not.
Nor do I attach too much importance to my BO status. The numbers change every Friday anyway. For me it’s more important to give my 100 per cent to a film. And having said that, I’d like to add that I don’t demand too much remuneration for either my films or my endorsements. I am worth the money I take home,” she avers.
The reignwoman is also going to launch her mom’s designerwear collection this Ugadi. “Mom has been styling my outfits all these years. Now she’s going to launch her very own collection and I’m super excited about it,” confesses the 20-something. Family seems very important for this Goan lass. “Even today I hand over my salary to mom and she gives me some pocket money,” she says.
And for all those who’ve wondered what keeps her svelte and sexy, the big surprise is Ileana is no fitness freak.
She neither works out at gyms nor does she follow any special diet. “I am quite a foodie and love to binge on biryani, sweets — the works, but my constitution is such that I don’t put on weight,” she grins. Now, not too many girls can hope for such a perfect life! |
