Till the film released the identity of Harleen, the another important character of Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Love Aaj Kal’ was kept hidden. Now the maker felt it’s the right time to disclose the fact. The beauty whom the sardar Saif Ali Khan fell for is actually a Brazilian model Giselle Monteiro who lacks in speaking Hindi and dancing.
"She is actually a Brazilian girl named Giselle Monteiro. How come a Brazilian girl stepped into an old-fashioned Punjabi girl's role? Well, I was auditioning girls from all over the country to play the Punjabi girl opposite the Sikh Saif. I couldn't find the right girl to play the 1965 ki 'gali mein rehne wali ladki, purane zamane ki'," said Imtiaz Ali.
Giselle came for audition into Ali's office to play another role but Imtiaz’s wife felt she would be the right choice for the Punjabi girl.
"Giselle came to me through dress designer Anaita Shroff. She was to play Jo, Saif's Caucasian girlfriend in the second half. She wasn't right for Jo.
"But my wife, who was there, suggested Giselle for Harleen. I turned and looked at Giselle and realized she is Brazil's Harleen. She didn't know how to speak Hindi. But she had only two lines to speak, which we dubbed," said the director whose film has got a stupendous opening at the box office.
"She has been traveling all alone from all over the world from the age of 17. She's 19 now. Saif kept grumbling he'd look too old with Giselle. But he pulled it off completely," he added.
Giselle’s identity was kept hidden during the making and also in the promo to higher up the interest level.
courtesy : Bollywoodmantra.com