I’d love to work with SRK: Penélope Cruz

Academy Award winner Penélope Cruz is all praise for Khan’s performance in Swades, claims she’d like to play a traditional role in a Bollywood film. Most Hollywood stars would just nod and say, “We’d love to,” when asked if they have...

Most Hollywood stars would just nod and say, “We’d love to,” when asked if they have Bollywood ambitions. But Penélope Cruz seems to have given the prospect a little more thought. “I love the culture and I’d love to do a traditional role in Bollywood,” she claims.And despite her minimal knowledge of Indian cinema, the actor knows she wants Shah Rukh Khan to be her co-star. “I’ve seen a few of his films, and I think he’s awesome. I would love to work with him,” she gushes.

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Penélope’s latest film, To Rome With Love, is releasing today. Her character, Anna, is a prostitute — a “beautiful, peculiar” character, in her own words. It’s also her second film with acclaimed director Woody Allen, the first being the runaway hit, Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), where her role as Maria Elena fetched her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Surely there’s pressure to replicate that success? “Not really. Woody just lets us actors be. He isn’t bothered about success. He’s given me some mad characters to play,” says the actor who’d once remarked that she only received offers to play pretty characters.

This time, she’s acting with a younger crop of actors like Jesse Eisenberg and Ellen Page. “I got to learn from everyone,” says Penélope, revealing an interesting facet of Allen’s working style: “None of us knew what the other one’s role was. We were only briefed about our own characters, so it was kind of fun.”

What about working with husband, actor Javier Bardem? “We keep our personal and professional lives separate. We don’t plan to work together. But if my

marriage has had any effect on my career, it’s a good one. There is so much love, understanding and respect that any one would only flourish.”