It requires a lot of co-operation from the person you are working with : Ileana D'Cruz

How did this film happen? Did you say ‘yes’ immediately?

One day my manager called me up and said there is this film called ‘Rustom’ and it is with Akshay Kumar in the lead. After hearing the narration, I was like ‘Wow! When can we start this film?’ This is the first film I decided to do without even consulting with others.

How was it working with Akshay Kumar? Were you excited or nervous?

The nervousness comes from within myself, whether I will be able to pull off the character or not. I am very emotional person myself and I was just hoping Akshay would be the one to distract me. We were very sensitive together. It requires a lot of co-operation from the person you are working with. He really helped my performance in the film.

How different is Esha’s character from yours in the film?

Well, I don’t come as such a positive person. Trailer is the proof of that. If anything, I am the reason why everything is a mess. Esha’s role has given a nice perspective to my character as well. She is fighting for her brother but for me it is totally a different fight altogether. She wants her husband to be saved from this mess but she doesn’t know how to get him out. There is this helplessness about her.

You have worked with Ranbir, Varun Dhawan, and Akshay! Which was the best experience for you?

It was all very different actually. Ranbir and I did a film that was so beautiful. That love story was just amazing. Varun and I worked in a fun film so it was a fun relationship with him. The story of the film that you do reflects the relationship with your co actor. With Akshay it is an intense story where there is so much love between the couple. The most on-screen chemistry I had was definitely with Akshay. It was just magic. The first scene I had with him, something happened inside me and I was supposed to breakdown. But I actually started crying a lot when he put his hands around me and they did not even say cut after the shot, as it was very natural. It was really beautiful. I have done so many films but I have never had this chemistry as real as with Akshay. I just hope it shows on-screen.

Which is your next film?

Baadshaho, if all goes well. Director Milan also tweeted about it recently. I am just waiting eagerly for the shoot to begin. He is a director I really admire a lot. We met during Rustom when he had actually come to meet Akshay. He was sitting to next to me and I am not a person who can just have small talk with anybody. He respected me when I told him I waited for a long time to do a film that I really like. 3 months later he called me and narrated the story. I liked it so much and I have complete trust in him.