Tollywood’s favourite girl next door, Genelia D’Souza, took everyone by surprise when she shed her famous “bubbly” image for an intense role in her latest film, Katha. Gone is the happy go-lucky, college prankster prancing around trees. instead, Genny won rave reviews for her new avatar as a girl who is traumatised by the loss of her parents.
Despite the critical acclaim she has been getting for this performance, Genelia admits that her first attempt at doing a serious role was daunting. “I was initially scared and had to consciously come out of my comfort zone to play this character,” she says.
The actress, who is best known for her roles in Bommarillu and Jaane Tu, has no qualms about being paired opposite freshers. “In Katha, I shared screen space with debutant Arun. For me it’s the story that matters. As long as the script is strong, it is fine. I have acted with both senior actors and new comers and I take this as a compliment,” she says.
However, there is no dearth of prominent faces lined up to act opposite Genelia, who is all set to star opposite Ram Charan Teja in her next film.An expert at juggling both her Tollywood and Bollywood careers, Genny says she has a soft spot for the South where her Telugu fanbase is as strong as ever. However, she has been steadily carving a niche for herself in Mumbai too.
And though she hasn’t had a Bollywood hit since Jaane Tu…, she isn’t too worried. “Hits like Jaane Tu… and Bommarillu don’t happen often. Getting that kind of success constantly is impossible. My movies are doing fairly well. For now, I am awaiting my film Chance Pe Dance, opposite Shahid,” she says.
In an industry where actresses usually don’t last more than three years, Genelia has held her own for over five years. The secret, she claims, is her ability to strike the right balance. “I don’t overdo the glamour bit. I like the fact that people relate to me.
