The grapevine still connects her, stubbornly, to her debut film co-star Riteish Deshmukh. To that, India’s sweetheart sighs, “Ab bas karo please!” Genelia D’Souza takes on a volley of questions from her forthcoming films to life after sucess in Bollywood.

Don’t vanish down south again.
(Laughs) After Jaane Tu... Hindi movies are my priority. But I won’t stop acting in Telugu, Kannada and Tamil films.

The success of Jaane Tu.. took the film industry by surprise. Your Mere Baap Pehle Aap was expected to click, too, but...
Well, since I was in Mere Baap..., I wanted it to work, too. Akshaye and Priyan are a successful team. We were quite anxious about Jaane Tu... but as its release date came closer, our confidence grew.

But weren’t you sidelined in the promotions after the debacle of Mere Baap...?
Eventually, the spotlight was only on Aamir and Imran Khan. I don’t think Aamir is that kind of a person. I don’t know how the talk about his interference went around. I got my fair share of publicity.

You have worked with a debutant, Imran, as well as an establish actor, Akshaye, at the same time did you feel any differences while working with them?
Not really; they are both superb actors and full of talent. No difference while working with them in that sense. After all, acting is acting and you have to do it with anyone in front of you; then only will you be a good actor. So I don't think there was much of a difference because both are very very talented.

How difficult is it to make it big in Hindi films, after becoming a big name in South?
Though the film industries are different, my job as an actor remains the same. It is cinema that matters most to me, not the industries. Now I’m looking at a career here and want to be appreciated. My experience in Hindi films has been overwhelming till now. My second film Masti was a huge hit, and now I am getting to work with big banners. I’m enjoying every minute of it.

Imraan and you are shown as 'Best Buddies' in the film. So was it the same off-screen too?
Strangely from the day we met, we hit it off. We even screen tested together. We were super comfortable with each other from the first day itself. In fact, I was whacking him right from Day 1. It was just like how Aditi and Jai are in the film.

Do you get along with Imran Khan’s girlfriend, Avantika?
She’s a nice girl and would visit the sets regularly. We got along well. We’re in touch.

What's the one thing that annoys you the most about Imraan?
His euphemism jokes which only he and Abbas understand most of the time (laughs).

Was Imraan given any special treatment considering he was working in his home production? Were you bothered that you would be over-shadowed by all the hype surrounding his launch?
No never Imraan was one of us he didn't receive any special treatment. As for your second question, I don't know why anyone would be bothered. I am sure the rest of the world wants to know who Imraan Khan is more than who Genelia is but that's because it's his debut film and the fact that it's an Aamir Khan Production. Initially, there would be more attention towards Imraan but I am glad because all I want at the end of the day is my film to work. Having no backbone in this industry, this is probably the best way for me to get noticed.

How do you view the Jaane Tu... and the Love Story 2050 clash in retrospect?
I wanted both the films to work. One had me, the other had Harman with whom I’m doing It’s My Life.