Genelia D'Souza: Difference between revisions

| image              = Genelia D'Souza.jpg

| caption            = Deshmukh at a press meet in 2012

| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|08|05}}<ref name="birthday" />

| birth_place        = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]

| relatives          = [[Vilasrao Deshmukh]] (father in law) <br/> [[Amit Deshmukh]] (brother in law) <br/> [[Dhiraj Deshmukh]] (brother in law)

Born in [[Mumbai]],<ref name="deb">{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-10-31/news-interviews/27946802_1_genelia-d-souza-jtyjn-tamil |title=Bollywood via Kollywood |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=1 January 2010 |date=31 October 2008 |first=Sreedhar |last=Pilai |archive-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723172404/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-10-31/news-interviews/27946802_1_genelia-d-souza-jtyjn-tamil |url-status=dead}}</ref> D'Souza is a [[Mangalorean Catholic]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nivas |first1=Namita |title=The outsiders in Bollywood |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/the-outsiders-in-bollywood/ |access-date=8 November 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=10 October 2014 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Genelia-awarded-for-promoting-East-Indian-culture-through-wedding-rituals/articleshow/20115948.cms |title=Genelia awarded for promoting East Indian culture through wedding rituals - Times of India |work=The Times of India |access-date=19 November 2017 |archive-date=14 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814225231/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Genelia-awarded-for-promoting-East-Indian-culture-through-wedding-rituals/articleshow/20115948.cms |url-status=live}}</ref> She was raised in the [[Bandra]] suburb of Mumbai. Her mother Jeanette D'Souza was a managing director of the Pharma Multinational corporation. She left her job in 2004 to help D'Souza with her career. Her father Neil D'Souza, is a senior official with [[Tata Consultancy Services]].<ref name="bus">{{cite news |url=http://www.businessworld.in/index.php/Corporate/An-Ingenue-Is-Born.html |title=An Ingenue Is Born |last1=Brahma |first1=Mahul |date=26 December 2008 |access-date=1 March 2009 |publisher=[[Businessworld]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207190915/http://www.businessworld.in/index.php/Corporate/An-Ingenue-Is-Born.html |archive-date=7 February 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> She also has a younger brother, Nigel D'Souza,<ref name="god"/><ref name="house">{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-25/news-interviews/28091934_1_genelia-d-souza-homepage-christmas-tree-santa-claus |title=Santa, bless Mumbai: Genelia |access-date=1 March 2009 |first=Nimisha |last=Tiwari |date=25 December 2009 |work=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811060653/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-12-25/news-interviews/28091934_1_genelia-d-souza-homepage-christmas-tree-santa-claus |url-status=dead}}</ref> who works with the [[Bombay Stock Exchange]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Chuman |last=Das |title=Genelia D'Souza brings in birthday at her new house |date=5 August 2009 |publisher=Business of Cinema |url=http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=13968 |access-date=20 December 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726025236/http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=13968 |archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> According to D'Souza, her name means "rare" or "unique", and is a [[portmanteau]] of Jeanette and Neil, her mother and father's names. She is also often informally referred to as ''Geenu'', her nickname.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/07/02/4047/index.html |title="All my girlfriends have already gone crazy after Imran" – Genelia Dsouza |last=Ramsubramaniam |first=Nikhil |date=2 July 2008 |access-date=1 March 2009 |work=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222110537/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2008/07/02/4047/index.html |archive-date=22 February 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> D'Souza studied at the Apostolic Carmel High School in Bandra and later joined [[St. Andrew's College, Mumbai|St. Andrew's College]] in Bandra to pursue her bachelor's degree of Management Studies.<ref name="daiji">{{cite news |url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=48478&n_tit=Meet+Bollywood%92s+New+Bee+Genelia+D%92souza |title=Meet Bollywood's New Bee Genelia D'souza |date=8 July 2008 |access-date=23 August 2008 |publisher=[[Daijiworld|Daijiworld Media]] |archive-date=20 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820020602/http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=48478&n_tit=Meet+Bollywood%92s+New+Bee+Genelia+D%92souza |url-status=live}}</ref> She completed her degree while shooting for her first film, ''[[Tujhe Meri Kasam]]'' in 2003 and initially thought that an MNC job would suit her.<ref name="biog"/> She liked sports and studies in college,<ref name="biog"/> and was a state level athlete, [[Sprint (running)|sprinter]], and a national level [[Association football|football]] player{{Unreliable source?|date=March 2020}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-08-12/news-interviews/27933539_1_genelia-d-souza-football-player-national-level-football |title=Genelia is crazy about Beckham |access-date=1 March 2009 |first=Piyali |last=Dasgupta |date=12 July 2008 |work=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811060702/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-08-12/news-interviews/27933539_1_genelia-d-souza-football-player-national-level-football |url-status=dead}}</ref>

D'Souza's professional film career began,<ref name="gen">{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_genelia-makes-small-screen-debut_1293000 |title=Genelia makes small screen debut |last=Mazumder |first=Ranjib |newspaper=[[DNA (newspaper)|Daily News and Analysis]] (DNA) |date=25 September 2009 |access-date=1 January 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929000100/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_genelia-makes-small-screen-debut_1293000 |archive-date=29 September 2009}}</ref> with her Hindi film debut ''Tujhe Meri Kasam'' in 2003.<ref name="bus"/> Film critic [[Taran Adarsh]] noted, "D'Souza is a wonderful performer. She catches you unaware with a performance that's natural to the core."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/7081/index.html |title=Tujhe Meri Kasam (Movie review) |access-date=20 December 2010 |last=Adarsh |first=Taran |date=3 January 2003 |work=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924030322/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/7081/index.html |archive-date=24 September 2010}}</ref> The film was a box–office success.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tujhe Meri Kasam |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/tujhe_meri_kasam#.VaU7-rUpq8M |publisher=[[Box Office India]] |access-date=14 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714230103/http://boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/tujhe_meri_kasam#.VaU7-rUpq8M |archive-date=14 July 2015}}</ref> However, it could not do much to propel her career in Hindi cinema.<ref name="fail2">{{cite news |url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/rising-star/419393/ |title=Rising Star |work=Expressindia |publisher=[[Indian Express Group|The Indian Express Group]] |date=5 February 2009 |access-date=1 January 2010 |last=Jassi |first=Pallavi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005064600/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/rising-star/419393/ |archive-date=5 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="fail">{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090111/jsp/graphiti/story_10367481.jsp |title=Ready to rock |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]] |date=11 January 2009 |access-date=1 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215184555/http://telegraphindia.com/1090111/jsp/graphiti/story_10367481.jsp |archive-date=15 February 2009}}</ref> Later, she decided to act in South Indian films.<ref name="deb"/> The same year, she made her Tamil debut as the teenage girl Harini in ''Boys'', a story about 5 teenagers having stereotypical teen–boy fantasies. The movie, though noted for its vulgar sexual content, was a box–office success,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/sep/09boys.htm |title=Shankar has taken Tamil films to new depths |work=Rediff Movies |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=9 September 2003 |access-date=1 January 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607044936/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/sep/09boys.htm |archive-date=7 June 2011}}</ref> and subsequently she started receiving Telugu film offers.<ref name="gt"/> She left [[Tamil cinema]] for a while to concentrate on the [[Cinema of Andhra Pradesh|Telugu film industry]]. She made her Telugu debut in 2003 as a medical student in ''[[Satyam (2003 film)|Satyam]]''.<ref name="sam">{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/23/stories/2003122300090400.htm |title=Sumanth stands out |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=23 December 2003 |access-date=3 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512182551/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/23/stories/2003122300090400.htm |archive-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> ''[[Sify]]'' noted in their review that, "D'Souza is excellent as her body language is her major asset."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/satyam-review-telugu-13344153.html |title=Satyam |access-date=20 December 2010 |website=[[Sify]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028195224/http://www.sify.com/movies/satyam-review-telugu-13344153.html |archive-date=28 October 2013}}</ref> The film was well received,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad-times/Genelia-hits-the-jackpot/articleshow/454014.cms |title=Genelia hits the jackpot |work=[[Hyderabad Times]]|date=30 January 2004 |access-date=3 January 2010 |last=Devi K. |first=Sangeetha |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512185830/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad-times/Genelia-hits-the-jackpot/articleshow/454014.cms |archive-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> and it raised her profile in the Telugu film industry.<ref name="gt"/>

In 2004, D'Souza appeared in her second Hindi film, ''[[Masti (2004 film)|Masti]]''. The comedy focuses on 3 close friends who reunite after 3 years, but are now married and are being harassed by their wives. D'Souza portrayed the character of one of the wives.<ref name="bbm">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/bollywood/2004/04/masti_review.shtml |title=Masti review |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=1 January 2010 |last=Gajjar |first=Manish |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050816113438/http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/bollywood/2004/04/masti_review.shtml |archive-date=16 August 2005}}</ref> [[Taran Adarsh]] was complimentary of D'Souza's role, saying, "Amongst the wives, D'Souza is the best, [...] D'Souza looks the stern and demanding wife and is sure to be noticed."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/7124/index.html |title=Masti: Movie Review |last=Adarsh |first=Taran |author-link=Taran Adarsh |date=9 April 2004 |access-date=1 January 2010 |work=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712035202/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/7124/index.html |archive-date=12 July 2009}}</ref> The film was a box–office success.<ref>{{cite web |title=Masti |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/masti |publisher=Box Office India |access-date=14 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715024016/http://boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_detail/masti#.VaU8DbUpq8M |archive-date=15 July 2015}}</ref> The same year, she appeared in two Telugu movies ''[[Samba (2004 film)|Samba]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/11/04/stories/2004110400920400.htm |title=Lucky mascot |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=4 November 2004 |access-date=3 January 2010 |last=Kumar |first=G. Manjula |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512182641/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/11/04/stories/2004110400920400.htm |archive-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> and ''[[Sye (2004 film)|Sye]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/03/18/stories/2006031801000303.htm |title=Love and action |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=18 March 2006 |access-date=3 January 2010 |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512182654/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/03/18/stories/2006031801000303.htm |archive-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> both succeeding at the box–office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.in.msn.com/southcinemathisdecade/teluguactress/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=3635796&page=33 |title=Telugu Actress of the Decade (Genelia D'Souza) |access-date=16 December 2010 |date=12 October 2010 |page=33 |work=MSN Entertainment |publisher=[[MSN]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726103721/http://entertainment.in.msn.com/southcinemathisdecade/teluguactress/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=3635796&page=33 |archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref>

D'Souza had a major role in 2011, starring as the Muslim warrior princess Arackal Ayesha, in her debut [[Malayalam film]] ''[[Urumi (film)|Urumi]]''. The film is about a fictional story happening in [[Calicut]], [[Kerala]] during the 15th century, about a boy who plots to assassinate the Portuguese explorer [[Vasco Da Gama]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Nair |first=Unni R. |title=HISTORY in the MAKING |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/HISTORY-in-the-MAKING/773031/ |access-date=14 April 2011 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |date=8 April 2011}}</ref> She learned horse riding, and spent two weeks of training to use the sword, the short stick, and movements of the [[Dravidian martial art]] ''[[Kalarippayattu]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nagarajan |first=Saraswathy |title=Princess of the marquee |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1584850.ece |access-date=14 April 2011 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=30 March 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403054223/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1584850.ece |archive-date=3 April 2011}}</ref> The film portrayed her image makeover from a typical girl–next–door roles to more serious roles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Muthanna |first=Anjali |title=Shahid is a friend: Genelia |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-27/news-interviews/29474942_1_genelia-d-souza-bubbly-girl-tamil-film |access-date=27 September 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=27 April 2011 |archive-date=28 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028083657/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-27/news-interviews/29474942_1_genelia-d-souza-bubbly-girl-tamil-film |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Genelia to trade her sweet look for bold warrior role |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/genelia-to-trade-her-sweet-look-for-bold-warrior-role/1/133601.html |work=[[India Today]] |access-date=27 September 2011 |date=28 March 2011 |last1=Joshi |first1=Sonali |last2=Kar |first2=Vivek |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102230830/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/genelia-to-trade-her-sweet-look-for-bold-warrior-role/1/133601.html |archive-date=2 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=B-town praises for Genelia D'souza's south flick |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/genelia-d-souza-riteish-deshmukh-urumi-shahid-kapoor/1/134256.html |work=[[India Today]] |access-date=27 September 2011 |date=4 April 2011 |last1=Joshi |first1=Sonali |last2=Srivastava |first2=Priyanka |last3=Varma |first3=Lipika |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102233704/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/genelia-d-souza-riteish-deshmukh-urumi-shahid-kapoor/1/134256.html |archive-date=2 November 2011}}</ref> Her next appearance was in the Hindi [[action thriller]] ''[[Force (2011 film)|Force]]'', which received mixed reviews from critics,<ref>{{cite web |last=Garia |first=Nikita |title=Review Round-Up: 'Force' Gets Mixed Reviews |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/10/01/review-round-up-force-gets-mixed-reviews/ |work=India Real Time (Blog) |access-date=4 October 2011 |date=1 October 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003151909/https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/10/01/review-round-up-force-gets-mixed-reviews/ |archive-date=3 October 2011}}</ref> with [[Taran Adarsh]] of [[Bollywood Hungama]] noting that D'Souza is strikingly sweet and subdued.<ref>{{cite news |last=Adarsh |first=Taran |title=Force : Movie Review by Taran Adarsh |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/14289/index.html |work=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |access-date=4 October 2011 |author-link=Taran Adarsh |date=29 September 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003144047/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/review/14289/index.html |archive-date=3 October 2011}}</ref> She played the role of a journalist alongside leading actor [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] in ''[[Velayudham]]'', which was also commercially successful.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 10 Tamil grossers of 2011 |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/top-10-tamil-grossers-of-2011-news-tamil-lm3mOLjjccdsi.html |website=[[Sify]] |date=29 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028080744/http://www.sify.com/movies/top-10-tamil-grossers-of-2011-news-tamil-lm3mOLjjccdsi.html |archive-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> She appeared in ''[[Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya]]'' and ''[[Naa Ishtam]]'' in 2012<ref name="rgt">{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-08/news-interviews/29629625_1_film-rough-patch-couple |title=Riteish, Genelia are back together! |date=6 August 2011 |access-date=30 July 2011 |archive-date=6 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106002158/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-08/news-interviews/29629625_1_film-rough-patch-couple |work=[[The Times of India]] |url-status=dead}}</ref> and in cameo appearances in ''[[Jai Ho (film)|Jai Ho]]'' and ''[[Lai Bhaari]]'' in 2014. In 2016, she appeared in a cameo role of Maya in ''[[Force 2]]''.

D'Souza will make her comeback to full time acting after 10 years with Riteish in [[Bhushan Kumar]]'s ''[[Mister Mummy]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/mister-mummy-first-look-riteish-deshmukh-and-genelia-their-pregnant-bellies-are-here-comical-drama-1014511%3famp |title=Mister Mummy first look Riteish, Genelia and their pregnant bellies are here |work=Pinkvilla |date=6 February 2022 |access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref> star in the Marathi film ''[[Ved (film)|Ved]]'' directed by Riteish,<ref name="Bollywood Hungama">{{cite news |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/riteish-deshmukh-turns-director-genelia-deshmukh-make-marathi-film-debut/ |title=Riteish Deshmukh turns director; Genelia Deshmukh to make her Marathi film debut |work=Bollywood Hungama |date=8 December 2021 |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> and will also return to South industry after 10 years with a Telugu–Kannada bilingual, film ''Production No.15''.<ref name="pinkvilla.com">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/genelia-dsouza-makes-comeback-acting-after-decade-telugu-kannada-movie-1038962?amp |title=Genelia Dsouza makes comeback to south films after a decade with telugu-kannada bilingual |date=5 March 2022}}</ref>

|<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/sponsored-riteish-deshmukh-and-genelia-dsouza-begin-mister-mummy-filming-2833776/amp/1 |title=Riteish and Genelia start Mister Mummy shoot in England |publisher=NDTV |date=21 March 2022}}</ref>

|2023

|<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 November 2020 |title=Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'souza to settle the age-old gender debate with their show Ladies Vs Gentlemen |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/riteish-deshmukh-genelia-dsouza-settle-age-old-gender-debate-show-ladies-vs-gentlemen/ |access-date=18 November 2020 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |language=en}}</ref>