Ileana started her career in Telugu filmdom. She reached the pinnacle of stardom when she was the highest paid actress and of course the most sought after name, so much so, she worked with almost every top star at that point. Her last release in Telugu was 2012 release Devudu Chesina Manushulu, after which she had her Bollywood release Barfi! and henceforth things changed. She didn’t come back to Telugu cinema.
Well, it wasn’t a choice she made, apparently. “I would love to be back here. It was a lot more fun working in Tollywood. I was doing four films a year… I was constantly working. In Bollywood, it is a much longer process. But I love both industries,” she shared in an interview with a leading daily.
“There was no plan to settle down in Bollywood and not do films in Tollywood. I guess people misunderstood when I did my first Bollywood film (Barfi) and since it was a big success, may be people thought I was not interested in Tollywood anymore. But from my side, there was no plan to stop,” she added.
She also shared that there are people she is very close to but wouldn’t call them and ask for roles as she feels they should give her a call if they think she is the right choice. “I have people that I am very fond of, Puri and Trivikram for instance, but I don’t feel that it’s my right to call and tell them ‘let me do a film with you’. If they want to cast me, they have the liberty to call me anytime and I would love to do a film here.”
Well, we do hope you come back soon Ileana, because we’ve always loved you.
