In a film like The Big Bull where the protagonist transforms from an underdog we root for to a drunk-on-power billionaire, Ileana D’Cruz’s character is of prime importance — she serves as the story’s moral compass. Playing a no-nonsense journalist who exposes the country’s biggest financial scam in the Abhishek Bachchan-starrer, D’Cruz says she tried to lend authenticity to her character that is modelled on Sucheta Dalal. “Our film is inspired by true events, and we’ve made our own version of it. My character is married to her work. I put my own spin to the role without looking up for references. It was crucial to maintain a balance; where she is a strong woman, she also encounters intimidation and is taken down by powerful people. There’s a certain insanity to Hemant Shah [Bachchan’s character] that had to be evened out [through my part],” she says, describing her role as the movie’s turning point. 

The Kookie Gulati-directed drama brings the actor back on screen after her 2019 release Pagalpanti. Asked if she is satisfied with the way her career has panned out, D’Cruz takes a pause before saying, “No, I am capable of so much more. I haven’t done more films by my own choice, but now, I will push ahead and do better. I won’t trade my restlessness and hunger.”