ILLEANA IS REALLY GOING PLACES: TAKING BABY STEPS TO BOLLYWOOD

Tollywood has become the launch pad to Bollywood, especially for the heroines. In recent times, it started with Bhumika Chawla notching up a couple of some real good Bollywood films. Following in her footsteps, Asin is making her debut in the Hindi remake of Gazni. Sada, too, is busy shooting with Shreyas Talpade for a Sangeet Sivan film called Click, and she has another one, Love Game, in the pipeline with Randeep Hooda. Before we can actually exclaim, "Wow, the Tollywood babes are really going places", here comes the news that Illeana has signed a Bollywood flick opposite Shiney Ahuja.

Illeana shares her delightful news with us.

ON HER DEBUT IN BOLLYWOOD
Finally, I’ve made it to Bollywood. I have never been overzealous about my entry there. For me, the storyline is what matters and not the industry. But now since it’s happening, I’m only too happy.

ON HOW SHE SEES HERSELF IN BOLLYWOOD VIS-A-VIS OTHER HEROINES
I’m content with what I have. If others are also following suit, I’m happy for them too.

ON HER ITSY-BITSY ROLE IN POKIRI
Pokiri was Mahesh Babu’s film. So, there was no power struggle for me. I enjoyed shooting for it, liked working with Mahesh, and I am tremendously happy about it’s box-office success. And, unlike Mahesh, who seldom talks and is an introvert, I had a whale of time constantly chatting and having masti on the sets.

ON HER 'SERENDIPITOUS ACCIDENT' IN TOLLYWOOD
At 16, I was offered Dhairyam, a Telugu film, but it didn’t happen due to certain reasons. Later, Raima Sen did this film with Nitin.

ON WHAT FILM GAVE HER THE BEST SATISFACTION IN RECENT TIMES
I’m really proud about my film Rakhi. I feel I have given my best in the film.

ON WHAT TOPS HER PRIORITY LIST
The most vital thing in this world is unconditional love, which only family members can give. And without my small family, I’m no one.

ON WHAT SHE DOES WHEN NOT SHOOTING
I love catching up on films on DVD or reading a Sidney Sheldon.

THE SEVEN 'SHAKY' WONDER GIRLS OF TELUGU CINEMA

They made waves in Telugu cinema not long ago with their wonderful performances. And even acted with some of the top heroes. But today, they have slowed down. Though they have been trying their best to regain their lost glory, it is a forgone conclusion that they are on shaky ground, and are on their way out.

Take a look at these seven 'shaky' heroines of Tollywood.

THREE HEROINES WANT TO OOOZE THEIR OOMPH AND SIZZLE AWAY INTO THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE. WILL SOKMEONE PLEASE RESPOND?

Anoushka wants to strip, Veda wants to lay bare her assets, and Ankita wants to be seen as skimpily as possible. The stripping mania seems to grip the Telugu heroines, who are dying to make their mark on Tollywood. And for good reason. The moolah that is offered is mindboggling, we hear. And the added benefits in the form of showroom openings, and other advertisements is too huge to forget about it. Therefore, every heroine worth her salt wants to project herself as the sex goddess. All the three -- Ankita, Veda and Anoushka -- have called for press conferences to announce that their fab bodies are on offer as long as it is a star. Presently, Anoushka is a little better as she is doing a film with Gopichand and another with Nagarjuna. And yet another one with Bhumika Chawla. Of course, she plays a second heroine in the last one to be directed by Ravi Babu. But she wants to steal more and more of the limelight. And show the filmmakers that she means business. That is, she can set the cash registers ringing. And Ankita too has moved her bag and baggage to Hyderabad, and doesn't want to leave Tollywood till she gets her rightful place in the Telugu film industry. And the latest entrant has been Veda. The girl with the cute looks may not necessarily have a sexy body, but maybe in the right hands, she might turn out to be a fabulous heroine. Will someone listen to them?