Genelia is more than just a cute face

'I like to challenge the space I’m in'

She is a star in five film industries around India, but still likes to walk to her local church. A blend of demure and daredevil, the actress reveals the adventure lover behind the glam girl.

By Ameta Bal. Styled by Pearl Shah. Photographs by Suresh Natrajan.

Standing in the door of a plane, strapped in with a skydiving jump-master, waiting to fall from over 15,000 feet with clenched eyes and white knuckles – that was not Genelia D’Souza. When Genelia went skydiving, she jumped with absolutely no hesitation, her eyes wide open, taking in the sights. And as soon as she touched the ground, she went back up to do it again. This was in New Zealand, and it wasn’t a film stunt. It’s just Genelia’s idea of fun. Like shark-cage diving in South Africa.

In Bollywood, Genelia is the quintessential girl-next-door. In real life, she is the good, church-going damsel who was born and brought up in Bandra, one of Mumbai’s most affluent suburbs. She doesn’t figure in the gossip columns; she’s adored within the neighbourhood Catholic community; and she calls herself “God’s favourite child”.

Her approach to her film career is perhaps as it would have been had she taken up any other profession. She entered the industry by chance when the creative head of an advertising agency spotted her at a family wedding and cast her in a Parker Pen commercial. But since then, she’s doggedly tried to find a place for herself, not hankering only after the Bollywood brand of glamour.

This 25-year-old has spent eight years trying to establish herself in five film industries and has succeeded in most. The impression that dedication and single-minded focus have got her where she is, is reinforced when she says, “I don’t think like someone who set out to be an actor. I’ve learnt it all on the way. I’ve learnt to love my role, my profession and this industry as I’ve gone along. I’ve had my highs and my lows, but it’s all worth it.”

On still being best known as Aditi from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, she says, “It’s a good feeling that they remember my character. I’ve attempted different things since then and I’ve definitely taken the longer route to success. But it has defined me as a person, a character, and an individual. I’d rather be like a book that you keep with you rather than a page that you turn. Fame is like the icing on the cake, but the cake is pretty good, too.”

Despite being a recognisable face, Genelia likes to walk around her neighbourhood – the church, the corner shop, the local cafe. “Everyone around here knows my house. That’s the beauty of my Catholic community, which is small and sweet and all around me. Half the time, I’m someone’s neighbour or friend. They like to refer to me as their Bandra girl. It’s very cute that some of them are so proud of me even without knowing me,” she exclaims. “When I visited my college (St. Andrews) recently, it was different meeting all my old teachers. As a student, I was in awe of them, and it was so funny that they all gave me so much attention now. I see and appreciate the love in all of this.”

Even while Genelia juggles multilingual screen avatars, she says that if she hadn’t become an actress, she would’ve used her business management degree to work in a corporate house. Would she have been a success? “I don’t know if I’m intelligent, I think I am. One thing is certain: I would’ve been @#$% good at my job.”