Ileana D'Cruz

Ileana D'Cruz (born 1 November 1986) is a Portuguese actress who primarily appears in Telugu and Hindi films. She is the recipient of several accolades including a Filmfare Award and a Filmfare Awards South.

D'Cruz made her screen debut in 2006 with the Telugu-language romantic-drama film '' Devadasu'', a commercial success, which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut - South. D'Cruz established herself as a leading actress in Telugu cinema with successful films including '' Pokiri'' (2006), '' Jalsa'' (2008), '' Kick'' (2009), and '' Julayi'' (2012). She also starred in the Tamil film ''Nanban'' (2012), which was a commercial success. D'Cruz expanded to Hindi cinema in 2012 with Anurag Basu's comedy-drama '' Barfi!'', for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She then played the leading lady in the box office successes—romantic comedy '' Main Tera Hero'' (2014), and the crime thrillers '' Rustom'' (2016) and ''Raid'' (2018).

In addition to her acting career, D'Cruz is a prominent celebrity endorser for brands and products. D'Cruz is married to Michael Dolan, with whom she has a son.

Early life

Ileana D'Cruz was born to a Goan Catholic father and Muslim mother in Mahim, Bombay (now Mumbai) on 1 November 1986. She is an atheist. Her family moved to Parra, Goa when she was 10 years old.

Her first modeling portfolio was created in January 2003, and D'Cruz called it a "disaster". Subsequent photo shoots and ramp shows led to a second portfolio the following year, which landed her advertisements from Electrolux, Emami Talc and Fair & Lovely. The latter, in particular, which was directed by Rakesh Roshan, gave her exposure and brought in several offers for acting in feature films.

Career

Breakthrough (2006–2007)

In 2005, D'Cruz was called for an audition by director Teja, but the project was cancelled.rediff.com: The hottest heroine of Telugu cinema
. Specials.rediff.com (23 August 2006). Retrieved on 28 May 2011. She made her feature film debut the following year with the Telugu romance film '' Devadasu'', playing an NRI girl opposite Ram Pothineni. She underwent acting classes with Aruna Bhikshu, before starting to work on the film, and recalls that during filming she felt "pressured ... almost cried and didn't want to go further", but went ahead after her mother encouraged her, giving her "the lecture of a lifetime ..at 3 am." A critic from ''Indiaglitz'' stated that she "has chiseled features and a figure to die-for." The film became the year's first commercially successful Telugu film, eventually grossing around 140 million, whilst earning D'Cruz the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South. D'Cruz next played an aerobics teacher, who is harassed by a corrupt police officer opposite Mahesh Babu, in '' Pokiri''. The film was a major commercial success, emerging as the highest-grossing Telugu film at the time. The film proved to be her breakthrough, with Trade analyst Sridhar Pillai calling her the "new pin-up girl of Telugu cinema". ''Sify'' found her to be "promising". The film earned her nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu.

In her third release of 2006, she made her Tamil film debut with '' Kedi'' opposite Ravi Krishna and appeared opposite Ravi Teja in '' Khatarnak'', both of which were box office failures. Her final release of the year, '' Rakhi'' opposite Jr. NTR was a box office success. D'Cruz first release of 2007, '' Munna'' opposite Prabhas was an average grosser. She then played a college student who is on the run from the home minister's crooked son, in '' Aata'' opposite Siddharth. It was a box office failure. Radhika Rajmani however stated, "Ileana is true to her character and her earnest performances is perhaps the saving grace of the film."

Critical and commercial success in Telugu films (2008–2011)

D'Cruz played a college student in love with her sister's ex-lover in the 2007l8 film '' Jalsa'', opposite Pawan Kalyan. The film was a box office success and one of the year's highest grosser. She received largely positive remarks, with critics citing that she looked "pretty", and "damn cool". Her performance won her the Santosham Award for Best Actress alongside her second Filmfare Best Actress – Telugu nomination. Her second release that year '' Bhale Dongalu'' opposite Tarun received mixed reviews from critics and audience.

D'Cruz had three film releases in 2009. In her first film '' Kick'', she reunited with Ravi Teja, played a modern girl. It was a commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year. A critic stated: "Ileana plays her part well. She is still as sexy as ever and the director exploits her charm and sex appeal to the hilt." The film earned her third Filmfare Best Actress – Telugu nomination. Her other two releases that year: '' Rechipo'' opposite Nithiin and '' Saleem'' opposite Vishnu Manchu, performed poorly at the box office.

In 2010, D'Cruz had a special appearance in the Kannada film '' Huduga Hudugi''. D'Cruz appeared in two films in 2011. Her first film that year was '' Shakthi'', opposite Jr. NTR, where she played a minister's daughter. The socio-fantasy film was the costliest Telugu film ever made at . It became a box office failure. A ''Rediff.com'' critic criticised her performance. Her next release '' Nenu Naa Rakshasi'', saw her play a Youtuber and vlogger opposite Rana Daggubati. Though the film was a failure, her performance was received positively by critics; an ''India Glitz'' reviewer described her as a "pleasant surprise in the film" as she "cried, smirked, looked hot, grabbed sympathy and made faces that were apt to the scenes", Despite these failures, D'Cruz continued to be among the highest-paid actresses in South Indian cinema.

Expansion to Hindi films and recognition (2012–2018)

D'Cruz appeared in four films in 2012. She first returned to Tamil films after six years with '' Nanban'' opposite Vijay, where she played a doctor. A remake of the 2009 Hindi film ''3 Idiots'', it became a major financial success, grossing at the box office on its first week. She received Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine nomination for the film. In her next film '' Julayi'', she played a travel agent's assistant opposite Allu Arjun. A box office success, it became one of the highest grossing Telugu film of the year. A ''CNN-IBN'' reviewer took note of her different characterization. She then played a taxi driver in '' Devudu Chesina Manushulu'', opposite Ravi Teja. The film received mixed reviews and eventually under-performed at the box office.

In her final release of the year, D'Cruz expanded to Hindi films with Anurag Basu's '' Barfi!''. She portrayed Shruti, a girl who leaves her true love for material comforts and the narrator, opposite Ranbir Kapoor. The film was a major commercial success, earning worldwide, becoming one of the highest grossing film of the year. D'Cruz's performance earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut, as well as several nominations for Best Supporting Actress. Rachit Gupta noted, "This is Ileana's first film but her fantastic performance is just a testament why the Telugu audience consider her a superstar. Of course it also helps that she is the most visually appealing in ''Barfi!'', out shining even the scenic hills of Darjeeling." Rajeev Masand stated, "Ileana leaves a lasting impression in her Hindi film debut, conveying both love and pain through those beautiful, expressive eyes." The film was chosen as India's official entry to the Oscars for the 85th Academy Awards.

In her only film of 2013, '' Phata Poster Nikhla Hero'', she played a social worker opposite Shahid Kapoor. The film was eventually declared a poor grosser at the box office. A ''Times of India'' critic stated that she was "good with emotions but not so tuned into comedy yet." D'Cruz first release of 2014 was '' Main Tera Hero'', a remake of the Telugu film '' Kandireega''. She played a college student opposite Varun Dhawan. The film became a box office success. Taran Adarsh noted, "Ileana pairs off well with Varun and does a reasonable job." She then played a romance novelist opposite Saif Ali Khan in ''Happy Ending''. The film underperformed at the box office.

Following a year hiatus, D'Cruz appeared opposite Akshay Kumar in the 2016 film '' Rustom''. The film emerged as the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year, collecting more than 2 billion at the box office. D'Cruz played Cynthia Pavri, a character based on Sylvia Nanavati. Anna MM Vetticad noted, "Illeana D’Cruz looks stunning in the film and does a decent job, but her characterisation is troubling." In 2017, D'Cruz first played a talkative Punjabi girl in '' Mubarakan'', opposite Arjun Kapoor. The film was a moderate success at the box office. Saibal Chatterjee noted, "''Mubarakan'' gives Ileana far more space than other actresses and she makes the most of the opportunity." In the next film, '' Baadshaho'', she played a Rajasthani princess (a character based on Gayatri Devi), opposite Ajay Devgn. Kriti Tulsiani found her performance to be "superficial and unconvincing". It was a box office failure.

D'Cruz's first release of 2018 ''Raid'', saw her play an income tax officer's wife opposite Ajay Devgn. The film was a major commercial success. Taran Adarsh stated that D'Cruz provides"depth" to her character. With her next release, D'Cruz returned to Telugu films after six years. She reunited with Ravi Teja in '' Amar Akbar Anthony''. She played a multiple personality disorder patient. Despite good expectations, the film failed at the box office. Hemanth Kumar CR found her to be "convincing".

Career fluctuations (2019–present)

In 2019, D'Cruz played a con woman in '' Pagalpanti'', opposite John Abraham. Priyanka Sinha Jha of ''News18'' stated, "Ileana looks beautiful but has precious little to do." The film failed at the box office. With no release in 2020, she played a journalist in the 2021 '' The Big Bull'' alongside Abhishek Bachchan. Ronak Kotecha was appreciative of her "honest performance".

Following a three year sabbatical, D'Cruz returned to films in 2024. She first played a dark-skin girl in '' Unfair & Lovely'', opposite Randeep Hooda. Dhaval Roy stated, "Ileana shines as the endearing yet no-nonsense Lovely. But her makeup looks patchy and inconsistent throughout." In the same year, she played an emerging actress opposite Pratik Gandhi in '' Do Aur Do Pyaar''. Anuj Kumar of ''The Hindu'' found her to be an "absolute delight". Both films underperformed at the box office.

Other work and public image

D'Cruz has established herself as one of the leading actor of the Telugu and Hindi cinema. '' Vogue'' said that she is a "well-recognised name" in the South Indian film industry. Taran Adarsh termed her "super efficient". '' Verve'' noted, "D'Cruz makes the unreal seem believable on celluloid". She stood at the 18th place on Forbes India's most influential stars on Instagram in South cinema for the year 2021. She was widely praised for her Hindi film debut '' Barfi!''. She was placed 2nd in '' Times of India's'' 10 Most Promising Female Newcomers of 2012 list. In 2012, '' Rediff.com'' placed her in their listing of the top 10 Bollywood actresses, where she ranked 8th. D'Cruz has been suffering from body dysmorphic disorder. She has been vocal about her body image issues.

In addition to her acting career, D'Cruz is a prominent celebrity endorser for brands and products including Clear Shampoo with Virat Kohli and CavinKare with Akshay Kumar. She is also the brand ambassador of Tourism Fiji. D'Cruz has subsequently appeared on Times' Most Desirable Women list, she was placed 20th in 2011 and 21st in 2013. D'Cruz has been associated with a number of causes. She has donated her clothes and accessories to raise money for renovating an animal hospital in Mumbai in 2013. She has walked the ramp for "Smile Foundation", to lend her support for girls education. In 2016, D'Cruz attended a charity event for the underpriviliged kids.

Personal life

D'Cruz acquired Portuguese nationality in 2014. In an interview with ''Verve'' in 2017, she claimed that Portugal was a part of her ancestry. She was in a relationship with Australian photographer Andrew Kneebone, which ended in 2019.

In May 2023, D'Cruz married Michael Dolan and welcomed their first child, a son, in August 2023.

Filmography

Films

Accolades

D'Cruz has received a Filmfare Award and a Filmfare Awards South each. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut—South for '' Devadasu'' and Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for '' Barfi!''

Notes

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:D'Cruz, Ileana
1986 births
Living people
Actresses from Mumbai
People from Panaji
Actors from North Goa district
Female models from Mumbai
Female models from Goa
Konkani people
Portuguese film actresses
Portuguese female models
People who lost Indian citizenship
Portuguese expatriates in India
Portuguese people of Indian descent
Portuguese atheists
Expatriate actresses in India
Actresses in Hindi cinema
Actresses in Kannada cinema
Actresses in Tamil cinema
Actresses in Telugu cinema
Filmfare Awards South winners
Filmfare Awards winners
Screen Awards winners
Zee Cine Awards winners
21st-century Portuguese actresses
People with Overseas Citizenship of India