Giselli on cloud nine for being picked by SRK

Mumbai: If Brazilian model-actress Giselli Monteiro won many hearts as a pretty coy girl in Love Aaj Kal, she managed to impress Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan who recommended her name for his home production Always Kabhi Kabhi.

"I came to know much later that Shah Rukh recommended my name for the film. I was very happy," said the 22-year-old, whose happiness knows no limits. Not surprising because it is not everyday that King Khan recommends someone for his home production.

"I had never met him before. He saw me in Love Aaj Kal and chose me after seeing me there. I was happy that I got through a film, which was his production. When I found out that he chose me for the role, I was elated and excited," she added.

So far so good. But the film turned out to be a litmus test for Giselli because she had to deliver her dialogues in Hindi, something she didn't have to do extensively in her first film.

Made with newbies like Ali Fazal and Zoa Morani, the Roshan Abbas directed movie also features Satyadev Dube.

"I had to work a lot on the language in the film as compared to the previous one because in that one I hardly had any dialogues. I learnt much more Hindi this time. It was a big challenge for me.

"I recorded lines from the script and kept listening to it till I got the pronunciation right. I also made sure that I understand the meaning of the dialogues because when you're enacting a scene, it is not only about saying a dialogue, it is also about bringing out those emotions. And for that it's important to know what you are saying," she added.

"Sometimes I've even told Roshan sir to change few words, which were a bit of a tongue twister for me", she added laughingly.

Giselli will be seen as a schoolgirl in Always Kabhi Kabhi.

"In terms of the role, this was easier because I play a schoolgirl. It was easier to connect," said Giselli, who had never seen a Hindi film before Love Aaj Kal.

Born in the southern Brazilian state of Espirito Santo, she flew down to Mumbai and bagged modelling assignments for the covers of the Indian editions of lifestyle magazines Harpers Bazaar, ELLE and Marie Clarie, as also Femina.

But now she has stardust in her eyes and plans to stay on.

"Bollywood gave me new aspirations and goals. First, I was in modelling and I was too happy doing shows. Then I got to do films, so I am planning to shift my base here. I like challenges and I'm happy to take on bigger challenges. I think I'm here to stay now," said the budding actress.