The Brazilian Punjabi: Giselle Monteiro

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Why did director Imtiaz Ali and the entire team of the superhit movie Love Aaj Kal kept mum about the identity of Harleen Kaur the Punjabi Kudi opposite Saif Ali Khan? According to Imtiaz they did not want to freak people out by telling them that a Brazilian model was playing the part of a Punjabi girl. Giselle Monteiro, born in 1988 is a Brazilian model and Bollywood actress. She made her film-debut playing the role of "Harleen Kaur" in the 2009 Bollywood film Love Aaj Kal.

Giselle Monteiro was born in Espirito Santo, Brazil and she came to Mumbai in the year 2008. Giselle has travelled to countries like Italy, Germany, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines on various modelling assignments. She has been modelling since the age of seventeen and began her acting career in Bollywood, portraying the role of the old-fashioned Punjabi girl. Her true identity was revealed after the film's release and that stunned many a people in the industry. Giselle had approached Ali through a designer friend Anaita Shroff Adajania and had originally wanted to audition for the role of Jo, Saif Ali Khan's Caucasian girlfriend in the second-half of the film. But Imtiaz Ali's wife had other views and on her advice he cast her for Harleen's part, especially since he had not been able to cast for that role despite auditioning girls from across the country.

Giselle Monteiro is actively taking up modelling assignments but is yet to sign a film. According to her there are various offers but she wishes to be choosy about the ones she decides to do.