Description Anyone whos seen Love Aaj Kal, has come away wondering who Harleen is. Her name hasnt appeared in the credits. Evidently theres a good reason for it. This Punjabi kudi isnt a Punjabi kudi at all. Shes a 19-year-old Brazilian model called Giselle Monteiro who couldnt speak Hindi or dance to save her life, at one point in time. And director Imtiaz Ali didnt want to let out that a Brazilian was playing his Punjabi kudi — and so put off audiences. In the film, shes the one who is wooed and won by the Sardar Saif. And yes, the sequence showing her dancing at her engagement drove the entire unit up the wall. Apparently our Brazilian babe just couldnt get the steps right. Says Imtiaz, We wanted to put her through the paces with Sarojji (choreographer Saroj Khan). But it never happened. Sarojji didnt have the time. For a foreigner to get the Indian adaa right is very tough. We take for granted those nakhra-jhatka-matkas which weve seen our sisters perform at weddings. Indian girls have those adaas without being trained. But for a foreigner it is tough. Giselle couldve done with a bit more training. Even when Harleen became visible in the trailers she remained inaccessible to the public. Imtiaz says, Why a Brazilian girl to play an old-fashioned Punjabi girl? Well, I was auditioning girls from all over the country to play the Punjabi girl opposite the Sikh Saif. I couldnt find the right girl to play the 1965 ki gali mein rehne wali ladki, purane zamane ki. Then one day Giselle <b>...</b>
