CELEBS FACTORY

Ileana D'Cruz is very happy with the warm response that she has received so far for her Bollywood debut 'Barfi!' directed by Anurag Basu.


The hot and sexy actor revealed that she was earlier offered an opportunity to work with Salman Khan in the Prabhu Deva directed 'Wanted  (2009)' which was the Hindi remake of the Telugu film 'Pokkiri (2006)' directed by Puri Jagannadh starring herself and Mahesh Babu in the lead.

"Albeit I was excited to work with Salman, I felt that I was not ready for Bollywood then. So I allowed the opportunity to slip through my fingers," said the goan beauty admitting that she would love to work with Salman if she's offered a chance again.

However, the 'Nanban' heroine was quick to clarify that she had no regrets about refusing the given opportunity to act with Salman Khan and was proud to make her Bollywood debut with 'Barfi!'.

Ayesha Takia, who is making a comeback with director Nagesh Kuknoor's "Mod", says the break post her marriage was a practical step towards a secured future.

After marrying restaurateur Farhan Azmi in 2009, Ayesha got involved in his restaurant business. Salman-starrer super-hit "Wanted" was her last release.

"I had been working for so many years before 'Wanted', which did really well at the box office and I am thankful for that. I really took time to understand about the restaurant business," Ayesha told reporters at the unveiling of first look of "Mod" here Tuesday.

"I took the break because I really needed to look at the things from an outsider's perspective. As an actor, it helped me a lot." Her love for acting inspired her to make a come-back, she said. "For me, it's really about the craft and I enjoy it thoroughly. So, if I don't sign anything that genuinely excites me, I lose interest right there.

I was fortunate that Nagesh came to me with 'Mod'," said Ayesha, who made her debut as an actress with "Taarzan: The Wonder Car" in 2004. The 25-year-old, who earned critical acclaim for her performance in Kukunoor's "Dor", is all praise for the director for extracting the best out of her. "Nagesh is one who truly brings out the best in me.

He taught me my true potential as an actor. I am fortunate to get a chance to work with Nagesh, who gives me role any girl would die for." "After 'Dor', I didn't think it was possible to do such a role again, but 'Mod' is the best film for me to do after a long wait," said Ayesha.

Set in a small hill station, "Mod" is a love story about two different people. In the film, she has been paired with MTV VJ Rannvijay. Ayesha is in awe of the character she essays in the film. "The character I play is amazing. She is matured, independent and totally opposite me. I am amazing (laughs) but not that independent. She manages her life. She has this clock store and earns her living. She meets Raanvijay and falls in love with him." "She is unlike the character I have ever played before. When you do a Nagesh film, you really go into that detail about the character, her mind and her life. So, the character is amazing and I would miss her forever," she said.

Releasing Sep 30, the film also stars actor Raghuvir Yadav and Tanvi Azmi in pivotal roles.

Smiling beauty Sneha had been too busy in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films till date that she never agreed to do a Hindi film though opportunities came her way. But now the lady has agreed to try her luck in Bollywood.

Her debut will be with veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah. Sources in Kollywood say that Sneha is so happy to get an opportunity to share the screen space with Naseeruddin Shah and she decided to lap it up.

In this film titled Mad Dad to be directed by Revathy Verma of June R fame, she will play Naseeruddin Shah's wife and mom to a grown up daughter to be played by Aysha Takia.