"Everybody's saying Saif (Ali Khan) I and I look good on screen says, Ileana D'Cruz admitting that despite the crackling chemistry with her Happy Ending co-star, it wasn't all hunky-dory on sets. "I didn't know Saif at all, so during the first schedule I was somewhat uptight. I thought he needed his space so I didn't talk much and that made him think I was a shy girl," adds the actress.

One day he strode up to her and demanded to know why she was so defensive. Ileana protested saying she wasn't and then Prince Charming asked her straight, "So do you want to be friends?" She nodded and the ice was broken. In retrospect, she admits that her opinion of Saif was based on the movies she'd seen. "That's the worst-possible opinion you can have of a person!" she says. "He's goofy, genuine and thoughtful. He reads a lot and between shots gave me acting lessons."

Not many know that, Ileana's boyfriend, Andrew Kneebone, has a cameo in the film. "I had nothing to do with it!" she quips, adding it was director duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK's brainwave. "Andrew's not an actor, he's an IT professional. It was fun shooting with him."

Buzz is, they're engaged and reports of a diamond ring reaffirmed the rumour. "I'm not going to comment on this, if I do I'll become a public spectacle," she retorts. So is marriage on the cards? "Marriage will happen," she blushes. "Earlier, I couldn't imagine two people spending their entire lives together but as you grow older, you become wiser. Love comes with heartaches. I've gone through all that and it's changed me. Now, I think marriage is great!"


While Happy Ending is a fitting follow-up to her Bollywood debut, Barfi!, the two films in-between, Main Tera Hero and Phata Poster Nikla Hero, stick out. What promoted her to give the nod to these potboilers? "It was a conscious decision. I wanted to be a part of the mainstream and play to the gallery. I didn't want to be typecast as a beautiful Bengali woman which is why I refused similar offers post Barfi!" she says. "But now, I'd love to go back to Dada (director Anurag Basu). He's been raving about the Happy Ending trailer."

And is she wooing any of the other Khans-- Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman? "I would love to do a film with them!" she exclaims, but adds that she doesn't take on offers with box-office numbers in mind? "For me, it's all about pleasing the audience and getting my share of critical acclaim. If people watch my film and come out saying I'm a decorative prop, it would really disturb me," she shudders.