Giselli Monteiro: Follow your heart

In 2008, Brazilian model and Bollywood wannabe Giselli Monteiro was pretty clueless about Mumbai's film industry. She couldn't tell Saif Ali Khan from Shah Rukh Khan nor could she speak a word of Hindi. But it actually paid off for her, says the rising actress. "In a way that was good. I was not nervous at all during the audition for Love Aaj Kal. They were just normal people for me. The thing about them being stars didn't click in my head — but now I am far more aware about everything," said Monteiro, who made her Bollywood debut in 2009 with the romantic drama. She has come a long way since then. Now she has two Hindi tutors, attends three hours of language sessions every day, has an agent who lets her know about auditions and a resolve to master the tongue-twisters. "When you are a foreigner in Bollywood, be prepared to be made fun of. Many will find your accent funny but what you need to do is ignore that and start speaking the language with strangers — that way they will judge less and you can show off your knowledge more. And some producers will speak to you only in Hindi to test how much you can really understand," says Monteiro. Article continues below Hiring a manager to sort out your auditions is also a must, adds the actress. "That's step two of understanding Bollywood. When I came to Mumbai, I didn't know who were the legitimate producers and who weren't. That's where managers come in. You should let them arrange meetings with good clients. There will be many people who will advise you but be careful about whom you take the advice from." She was last seen in this year's teen drama Always Kabhi Kabhi as an Anglicised schoolgirl. "So far Bollywood has been very accepting. As long as they know you are serious about being here, the producers and directors start to take you more seriously. And always follow your heart."