Ileana: It would be prudish to say ‘I don’t want to be a prop in a film’

The film industry has often been accused of objectifying its heroines in way that deeply disrespects them. Talking about it, Bollywood diva Ileana D’Cruz recently said, “It would be prudish to say ‘I don’t want to be a prop in a film’, because there are certain films I’ve loved doing as I have looked very glamorous in them. At the end of the day, it’s your choice if you want to do it.”

She added, “I have been parts of some films in the South where I didn’t expect certain shots to be shot in a certain way. I wasn’t experienced enough, I was very naive, I didn’t have the standing of an actor to say that ‘I don’t want to do this shot. So it really depends. Some people are okay with it, some are not. At the end of the day, you are doing the film for the audience. May be some sections of people actually like watching this.”

Recalling an incident from the sets of one of her movies, she said, “They threw a fairly big shell on my belly. I didn’t understand it. I asked the director, ‘Why did you throw a shell on me?’ and he was like, ‘it looks beautiful’. I said, but it was really heavy. There was also a shot with flowers around my waist. I asked why are you taking shot of my waist, he said because it looks beautiful, lovely. It is supposed to be a mark of a woman’s beauty, it’s the perception there, they believe that the waist line is the most attractive part.”

Ileana is currently gearing up for the release of her upcoming movie ‘Baadshaho’ alongside Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi and Esha Gupta, which will hit the theatres on September 1.