Genelia D’Souza

Genelia D’Souza Biography

•Full name- Genelia D’Souza Deshmukh
•Born- 5th August, 1987
•Nicknames- Geenu
•Relationship Status- Married to Ritesh Deshmukh
•Professional career-  Actress
•First Film-  Boys (2003) (Tamil)
•First Film-  Tujhe Meri Kasam (Hindi)
•Year’s active- (2003- present)
•Height- 5.5

Genelia proved herself to be more than just a successful model and made that all important transition from the most sort after model to an A lister among actress. She established herself in the industry purely on the basis of acting talent and became one of the most sort after actresses in the southern industry. She is also one of the most bankable faces in terms of commercial advertising as well.
 
Genelia Early Life and modeling career- Genelia was born on the 5th August, 1987 to Neil and Jeanette D’Souza. Her mother was managing director of the Pharma Multinational Corporation (MNC) and her father retired as a senior official in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). She also has a Brother Nigel who works in Bombay Stock Exchange. She was raised as a Roman Catholic in the Bandra suburb of Mumbai. She schooled at Apostolic Carmel High School in Bandra and then attended college at St. Andrews and secured her bachelor’s degree in management Studies.

She also developed a keen interest towards sports was an athlete, sprinter and a national level football player. She was spotted as a bridesmaid in one wedding and was considered for a modeling assignment. She shot her first commercial with Amitabh Bachchan; however she was a bit reluctant on account of her exams. But she completed the shoot and became noticed for the Parker commercial. She was particularly appreciated for her naturalness and flow of emotions.

She also went on to star with Krishanmachari Srikkanth in a Fair Lovely Ad for the 2003 Cricket World Cup. She established as an effervescent and bankable face in the ad world and is associated with brands like Fanta, Virgin Mobile India, Fastrack, LG Mobiles, Garnier Light, Margo.

Genelia Film Career- Genelia was offered her first role in the film Tujhe Meri Kasam (Hindi). However this film did well. However her tryst with the southern industry started when she was considered for Director Shankar for her role in Boys (2003).  The actor was impressed by Parker Ad. The film filled with explicit soft sexual content did well. She then concentrated on the telegu industry and did the film Satyam (2003). She was appreciated for her performance and body language and the film did relatively well. In 2004 she essayed the role of a housewife in Masti.

The critics praised her for her rendition of the role. After appearing in her first Telugu movie in 2005, Naa Alludu, she starred in the Tamil romantic entertainer Sachein. A review in The Hindu noted, "Genelia, who hardly made an impression in Boys, makes much impact in Sachein.  However the turning point year in her career was 2006 She starred in films Happy, Ram and Bommarillu. She was appreciated for her roles and continued to deliver with hit performances at the box office. After nearly five years she returned with a Hindi film Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008). The film did not do commercially well at the box office.

However the role in Jaane Ne tu Na Jaane Na (2008) was the turning point in Bollywood. She infused freshness and naturalness in the roles that she essayed and was widely appreciated for the same. By now she was also a prominent actress in the south Indian industry. In 2010, she was seen in Chance Pe Dance but the film failed to do well at the box-office. Her 2011 release was Force opposite John Abraham received mixed response.

However she also essayed challenging roles like the one played for Urumi where she essayed the role of a Muslim warrior princess Arackal Ayesha. Particularly for the role she spent time learning horse riding sword fighting and also trained in Kalarippayattu. Her latest film Teere Naal Love ho Gaya (2012) received mixed responses and was later declared a hit at the box office.

Genelia Upcoming movies- Genelia upcoming movies Naa Ishtam (telegu) and Its My Life in Hindi that is presently in the stages of preproduction.

Genelia Personal life- Despite frequent rumour mills and tabloids doing the rounds the actress denied an linkups with actor Ritiesh Deshmukh. D'Souza later denied any rumors of a relationship with Deshmukh, and responded that they shared a friendly relation with each other .However, the couple eventually got married on 3 February 2012, according to Marathi marriage traditions in a Hindu wedding ceremony.

She got married at a Private civil Church ceremony in Bandra, at the following day. On personal note Genelia is deeply spiritual and regularly attends mass at her parish church of St. Anne’s Bandra. She also emphasized whenever she still some time when she is free at home for the recitation of the rosary.

Genelia Quotes-
•On her choices- “ I’m not thinking like that. I have accepted an opportunity that knocked at my door. I enjoy acting, it does not matter who is cast opposite me. I’m glad that I’m acting in saleable films.’’
•On her film career so far –“ I don’t think I am plain lucky. I have acted in a lot of films in South which speak of my abilities. Over the years, I’ve grown as an actor. It’s an achievement especially for someone like me who does not have a film background. I think I was chosen for these films simply because I fitted the bill.”
•Her approach- “Though the film industries are different, my job as an actor remains the same. It is cinema that matters most to me, not the industries. Now I’m looking at a career here and want to be appreciated. My experience in Hindi films has been overwhelming till now. My second film Masti was a huge hit, and now I am getting to work with big banners. I’m enjoying every minute of it.”

Genelia Controversies- She ran in to controversies when she attended the controversial IFFA award that was boycotted by a number of actors.  The result of this many Tamil extremist groups including the LTTE and Tamil groups demanded the ban of his films. In 2011 another controversy erupted where in a marriage scene in the movie the ritual seemed authentic that there were rumors that the actors had tied the knot together. Genelia was wearing a mangalsutra and exchanged garlands and performed the ceremonial seven steps around the fire. The producer Vipul Shah however dismissed this story as publicity stunt.

Genelia Awards-
2006 for the film Bommarilu she got
Nandi Special Jury Award
Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telug
Santosham Award for Best Actres

2009- Nandi Special Jury Award for Katha

2011- Asiavision Film Award for Best Actress for the malayalam movie Urmi.