Genelia D’Souza is the cutest Indian actress, who was born on 5 August 1987 (38 years old) in Bombay (Mumbai), Maharashtra, India.
Genelia has worked mainly in Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil films. Over the years, she became widely known for her work in South Indian cinema.
One of her best-known films is the Telugu romantic comedy Bommarillu (2006), for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, Telugu.
Quick Facts of Genelia D’Souza
| Full Name | Genelia D’Souza (Deshmukh) |
| Profession | Actress, Producer, Entrepreneur |
| Age | 38 years old |
| Date of Birth | 5 August 1987 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Leo |
| Birthplace | Bombay (Mumbai), Maharashtra, India |
| Current Address | Worli, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (reported) |
| Gender | Female |
Genelia D’Souza Early Life and Education
Genelia D’Souza was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India. She grew up in the Bandra area of Mumbai.
She comes from a Mangalorean Catholic family, and her nickname is Geenu.
Education
Genelia studied at Apostolic Carmel High School in Bandra. After that, she joined St. Andrew’s College in Bandra. She pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies. She completed her degree while working on her first film in 2003.
| School | Apostolic Carmel High School, Bandra |
| Alma Mater | St. Andrew’s College, Bandra |
| Highest Qualification | Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies |
Genelia D’Souza Personal Life
Genelia D’Souza married actor Riteish Deshmukh on 3 February 2012 in a traditional Maharashtrian ceremony. They had a Christian wedding the next day.
Their bond began when they worked together in 2003 on their debut film, Tujhe Meri Kasam, and their relationship slowly moved from friendship to love over the years.
Children
Genelia and Riteish are parents to two sons, Riaan (born on 25 November 2014) and Rahyl (born on 1 June 2016).
Father
Her father is Neil D’Souza. He has been described as a senior official with Tata Consultancy Services.
Mother
Her mother is Jeanette D’Souza. She has been described as a managing director at a pharma multinational company and left her job in 2004 to support Genelia’s career.
Siblings
She has a younger brother named Nigel D’Souza.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Husband | Riteish Deshmukh |
| Children | Sons: Riaan and Rahyl |
| Parents | Father: Neil D’Souza Mother: Jeanette D’Souza |
| Siblings | Brother: Nigel D’Souza |
Read also: South Indian Actress Name List With Photos
Genelia D’Souza Career
Genelia D’Souza started acting in 2003 with the Hindi film Tujhe Meri Kasam, along with Riteish Deshmukh and Shriya Saran.
That same year, she also appeared in the Tamil film Boys. After this early start, she worked across Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi films and became a familiar face in romantic and family entertainers.
In Telugu cinema, one of her biggest turning points was Bommarillu (2006), along with Siddharth, Prakash Raj, and Jayasudha.
She also acted in Happy (2006) along with Allu Arjun (with Manoj Bajpayee in a key role).
In Bollywood, she reached a wider audience with Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na (2008), along with Imran Khan and Prateik Babbar.
Along with films, Genelia has done TV and digital shows as a host. She hosted the reality show Big Switch (2009), and later co-hosted the poll-based show Ladies vs Gentlemen with Riteish Deshmukh (launched in 2020).
After a long break from regular releases, she returned to acting with Ved (2022), a Marathi romantic drama directed by Riteish Deshmukh and produced by Genelia.
She starred in it along with her husband Riteish Deshmukh, Jiya Shankar, and Ashok Saraf.
She then appeared in the Hindi film Trial Period (2023) along with Manav Kaul, Gajraj Rao, Shakti Kapoor, and Sheeba Chadha.
Brand work, production, and business
Along with acting, Genelia is also active in business and production.
- Mumbai Film Company: Films like Balak Palak (2013) and Yellow (2014) list Mumbai Film Company as the studio, and Ved (2022) also lists it as the studio. It is known that Mumbai Film Company Private Limited was registered in 2010 with Riteish Vilasrao Deshmukh and Genelia Ritesh Deshmukh as directors.
- Imagine Meats: Genelia and Riteish co-founded Imagine Meats, a plant-based meat brand. Imagine Meats partnered with Tata Starbucks in India for a vegan menu that included items like a Vegan Sausage Croissant Roll, Vegan Kebab Wrap, and Vegan Croissant Bun.
- Noice: Genelia partnered with Noice for the “Good Morning with Noice” campaign, promoting fresh, homestyle, preservative-free breakfast staples.
- Advertisements: Early in her career, she got wide attention from a Parker Pen commercial with Amitabh Bachchan.
Genelia D’Souza Awards and Achievements
Genelia D’Souza has received major recognition for her work in Telugu cinema, along with nominations for her Hindi films.
- CineMAA Awards (2004): Won Best Female Debut for Satyam.
- Nandi Awards (2007): Won Special Jury Award (Best Actress) for Bommarillu.
- Filmfare Awards South (2007): Won Best Actress (Telugu) for Bommarillu.
- Santosham Film Awards (2007): Won Best Actress for Bommarillu.
- Nandi Awards: She also received a Special Jury Award for Katha.
Genelia D’Souza Controversies
Genelia D’Souza has mostly kept a low profile, but a few issues have been reported in the media.
- 2010 IIFA Colombo reports: In June 2010, some Tamil groups objected after reports claimed she attended the IIFA Awards in Colombo, during a time when parts of the film industry were boycotting the event due to concerns linked to the Sri Lankan civil war.
- Force wedding scene discussion (2011): In 2011, there was talk around a wedding sequence in the film Force, where some reports claimed the rituals shown were very authentic and sparked debate.
- Fastrack ad with Virat Kohli: An old Fastrack commercial featuring Genelia D’Souza and Virat Kohli faced backlash for suggestive content and was reported as being banned after complaints.
Genelia D’Souza Net Worth
Genelia D’Souza’s estimated net worth is around ₹140 crore ($15.1 million). It is known that she charges around ₹1.5 crore ($158,564) per film.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | ₹140 crore ($15.1 million) |
| Salary (Approx.) | ₹1.5 crore ($158,564) per film |
Genelia D’Souza Height, Weight & Physical Stats
Below are the physical stats of the actress Genelia D’Souza:
| Height | In centimetres: 168 cm In meters: 1.68 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 6 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 55 kg In lbs: 121 lbs |
| Body Measurements | 34-28-36 inches |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
Interesting Facts About Genelia D’Souza
- Genelia and Ritesh are also popular for creating funny couple reels on Instagram.
- She and Riteish later partnered with Tata Starbucks for a vegan menu as part of their plant-based food business work.
- She has been the brand face for products such as Fanta, Virgin Mobile, Garnier Light, and Perk.
- Genelia has been a state-level athlete, a sprinter, and a national-level football player during her school and college days.
Genelia D’Souza Instagram, X, YouTube
 @geneliad | |
| X |  @geneliad |
| YouTube |  @itsgeneliad |
FAQs
What is the age of Genelia D’Souza?
Genelia D’Souza is 38 years old. She was born on 5 August 1987.
Who is the husband of Genelia D’Souza?
Genelia D’Souza is married to actor, producer, and entrepreneur Riteish Deshmukh.
How many children does Genelia D’Souza have?
Genelia D’Souza has two sons, Riaan and Rahyl.
What is Genelia D’Souza famous for?
Genelia D’Souza is best known for films like Bommarillu (2006) and Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na (2008).
Which award did Genelia win for Bommarillu?
Genelia D’Souza won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Telugu) for Bommarillu.
What did Genelia D’Souza study?
Genelia D’Souza studied at St. Andrew’s College, Bandra, and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Management Studies.
What business brand does Genelia D’Souza co-found?
Genelia D’Souza co-founded Imagine Meats, a plant-based meat brand, with Riteish Deshmukh.
