Barfi! launches a new face in Bollywood, but who is Ileana D'Cruz

Anurag Basu’s romantic comedy Barfi! released on Friday, September 14 and saw Ileana D’cruz play her first Bollywood character called Shruti.

BREAKING NEWS: September 22:

Barfi! is India’s entry at the Oscars Anurag Basu’s film Barfi! has been nominated as India’s entry in the ‘Best film in Foreign Language’ category at the Oscars in February 2013. The Ranbir-Priyanka-Ileana starring film has received positive reviews since its opening on September 14, 2012 and has collected nearly 59-crore rupees in its first week at the Box Office.

Barfi! is a story of three people -- Murphy or Barfi (Ranbir Kapoor), Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra) and Shruti (Ileana D’Cruz).

While Murphy/Barfi is a deaf and mute but happy-go-lucky boy, Jhilmil is an autistic girl. Ileana’s character Shruti is the narrator of the film and also an important part of Barfi’s life. 

Ileana D’Cruz landed the role in Barfi! after Katrina Kaif opted out of the film.

Ileana will be seen in another Bollywood movie titled Phata Poster Nikla Hero opposite Shahid Kapoor. Ileana’s second film is slated for a release next year.

While Barfi! and Phata Poster Nikla Hero will be her first Bollywood ventures, Ileana has already carved a niche in Tollywood and Kollywood industries.

The 24-year-old Mumbai-girl, Ileana, began her acting career in 2006 with her role in Telugu cinema Devadasu and bagged the Filmfare award for best Female Debut that year. Since then, Ileana has acted in 14 Telugu films, one Kannada film and two Tamil films.

In addition to bagging the best debut award, Ileana has been nominated for best actress awards in 2008 and 2009. Ileana has become a high profile actress in South India after playing a series of characters in commercially successful Telugu and Tamil films such as Pokiri, Kick, and Jalsa. She has also won the Santhosham Best Actress award for her role in Jalsa. 

In this year alone, Ileana has been part of two Box office hits – Tamil film Nanban and Telugu film Julai.

Tamil blockbuster film Nanban is a remake of Bollywood’s highest grossing film ever -- 3 Idiots. Ileana plays the character of Ria which was portrayed by Kareena Kapoor in 3 Idiots.

Before starting her acting career in Tollywood, Ileana has appeared in several television commercials including Fair & Lovely, Emami and Eluctrolux.

Whether Ileana D’Cruz can replicate her charm and magic she brought to Telugu and Tamil cinema remains to be seen, but audience have already given their thumbs up to her fresh new face in Barfi!’s trailer.

Also see pictures of Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor promoting Barfi! in London

Read the Review of Barfi! here

Here are some pics of Ileana D’Cruz who made her Bollywood debut with Anurag Basu’s rom-com Barfi! [All pictures are YouTube stills: courtesy: UTVMotionPictures and Gemini Films].