Giselle 'Harleen' Monteiro wants Aamir
Watching Love Aaj Kal on its opening day, many were left scratching their heads in disbelief when the name of Giselle Monteiro appeared in the end credits of the movie. “How could a firang babe play a shy and quiet Punjabi kudi with such finesse? No, there must have been some technical glitch,” many must have thought. But no, technical glitch there was none. It was Giselle the Brazilian model, who shocked the movie buffs with her true blue Punjabi looks that belong more to Bhatinda than Brazil.
Now, having entered the Hindi film industry with a storm, the mystery girl of ‘Love Aaj Kal’ is learnt to be thinking of giving Bollywood a serious shot.
And guess who’s on her wish-list?
Aamir Khan!
“I am a fan of Aamir Khan. I have watched a couple of his films and I want to work with him. I know he is a great actor in India,” Giselle is quoted as saying by NDTV.
About the other Khan - Saif Ali Khan, that is - Giselle is full of praises about how he helped her prepare for her role. In fact, Giselle had to watch a good number of old Indian movies to understand her character of a reserved Punjabi girl Harleen in the film.
Today, Giselle is eager to learn Hindi and work more in Bollywood.
Learn fast, gal! We can’t wait to see more of you.
Giselli Monteiro is 'Bollywood's Aaj Kal'
So now that the best kept secret in Bollywood is a secret no longer, it was only a matter of time before Harleen (Giselli Monteiro) stepped forward to take her bow and bask in the glory of ‘Love Aaj Kal’.
Brazilian model Giselli Monteiro has officially arrived on the Bollywood scene and audiences have taken this pardesi, desi girl to their hearts in a way in which no other foreign actress has managed before.
Serendipity bought Giselli to our screens as Saif’s love interest in the ‘Kal’ of ‘Love Aaj Kal’ and she revealed "I had been in India for barely 20 days when I was signed for the film. People tell me that here actors have to wait for years for that break. I have been extremely lucky."
Not only is she extremely lucky, but she is also extremely beautiful with her six-foot tall stature and luscious locks. Her father noted her Indian look years ago, "as a child, my dad would call me Indian because of my black hair. And years later I land up in the country to act in a movie. This is what dreams are made of."
The stunning model doesn’t seem too perturbed by her cloak and dagger arrival on the screen either and is adamant that she has no regrets. In fact she is as happy as can be because she is the talk of the town.
People are talking about me and that matters. The other day I was at a mall in Worli and people recognised me. I was floored by their response."
I have been extremely lucky: Giselli Monteiro
"I had been in India for barely 20 days when I was signed for the film. People tell me that here actors have to wait for years for that break. I have been extremely lucky," says the newbie who can pass off as an Indian including a surname that could pass her off as a Goan. It is Portuguese. As a child, my dad would call me Indian because of my black hair. And years later I land up in the country to act in a movie. This is what dreams are made of.
"Looking the part
Twenty-year-old Giselli who towers at six feet tall, is from Espirito Santo in Brazil. Since the age of 17 she has been travelling all over the globe. "As soon as I finished high school, I moved to Germany. I was extremely focused about modelling from a young age. As I was tall, people would tell me you should be on the catwalk.
Due to limited opportunities back home, I moved to Germany and then one assignment led to another. I have been to France, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and Philippines. And everywhere, I was told I look very Indian. So there was this desire to come to Mumbai and now I intend staying here.
"Floored
Though she was kept under wraps as part of the film's publicity, she has no regrets. "My name does appear at the end of the film in the credits. People are talking about me – that matters. The other day I was at a mall in Worli and people recognised me. I was floored by their response."
It is learnt that Giselli has been noticed and filmmakers have been asking about her. She is under contract with a modelling agency. "I came here to do fashion shows and model. I did a photo shoot with Farrokh Chotia who put me on to Anaita Shroff Adajania. She told me that Imtiaz was casting for his film. I casually went to meet him and landed up with the role."
Her parents and her two brothers are now also clued into Hindi films thanks to her. "They have been following every bit of Love Aaj Kal despite the language constraints," says Giselli who is now determined to learn Hindi.
