'I' ve not slashed my price for Bollywood'

I've not slashed my price for Bollywood, says Ileana, who is currently working in three languages

Your last Telugu film, Shakthi, didn't fare well at the BO. Are you nervous about your next?
The success or failure of a film does not depend on me alone. To some extent, neither does it lie in the hands of my co-star or director. When people blame the director for the failure of a film, others associated with the movie join in the chorus. But when a movie's a hit, everyone wants credit. I'm not the kind to do that. Failures did bother me a lot earlier. Then I decided to let go of it and focus on my character. The future of a film is not in my hands, but how I perform in it depends on me alone. So that's my prime focus. Yes, Shakthi didn't fare well and to be honest, I haven't watched the film yet. But I have had people tell me that I looked good in the film.

Every review of the film harped on your good looks. No one said you acted well...
In Shakthi, there wasn't much for me to perform and I knew about it.

Why did you sign the film then?
When I signed on the dotted line, the story was very different. Later during the filming everything changed. What I was narrated was different from what shaped up. Of course the director did inform me about the changes, but I didn't have much of a say in it.

Buzz is that you charge a bomb but fail to justify your price...
I don't think anyone has the right to comment on my pay cheque. And as far as justifying my remuneration is concerned, I would like to tell my detractors that if I wasn't worth it, my producers won't be paying me that much.

Have you slashed your price for your B-town debut, Barfee?
Who says that I have slashed my price for Bollywood? I don't believe in being underpaid. Plus, I'm not shifting bag and baggage to Bollywood. I'm working simultaneously in three languages — Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

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