Highlights of over 55 Years’ Career Span: (Films, Theatre, T. V., Radio as Actor, Singer, Playwright.):

• As Rajasthani Folk Singer/ Composer/ Lyricist/ Radio Feature Writer
• Her first Book, an autobiography ‘Parde ke Peechey’ was published by publishers Penguin Random House and was launched at the prestigious Mumbai Literature Festival in November 2024. The Book received favorable reviews and adorns many Bookshelves.
• Have sung Hit song ‘Ring Ring Ringa’ with Alka Yagnik for the Oscar winning film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.
• Sent by ICCR to participate at the conclusion of the ‘India Year in Canada’ in 2011 to present 8 ‘ILA Arun shows’ in different cities of Canada with an ensemble of 38 Folk and Mumbai artists including Langas, Manganiyars, Kalbelias from Rajasthan and traditional musicians & dancers from Mumbai.
• In Ottawa, Diwali show was presented for all the Parliamentarians & the Prime minister of Canada.
• Was the Voice of ‘Rajasthan Royals’ anthem song ‘Halla Bol’ for inaugural IPL T20 Cricket league.
• Invited by the Ambassadores of India in Armenia, Poland, Germany, Italy & Sweden and sponsored by the ICCR in 2004 to present 7 ‘Ila Arun Folk & Pop shows’ leading a team of 16 folk (Maganiyars and Kalbelias from Rajasthan) and traditional musicians & dancers from Mumbai.
• Performed approx. 200 Live ‘ILA ARUN Musical Folk Shows’ in India and around the world.
• Written Lyrics, Composed Music & Sang for over a dozen of her own Folk & Pop audio albums.
• Done Playback singing for over 50 Hindi & regional Feature Films; ‘Choli Ke Peechhe Kya Hai’ still remains as one of the most known hit songs of the film industry.
• Composed Music and wrote Lyrics for a Children’s Film titled ‘Mujhse Dosti Karoge’.
• Worked with the All India Radio, and BBC Radio (Hindi) London as free-lance broadcaster-cum-feature writer.
• Commissioned to produce and write sit-com for Delhi Door Darshan in the beginning of her career.

In Theatre:

• As a Playwright written Four Original plays in Hindi: ‘Riyaz’, ‘Chhota Kashmir’, “Shabd Leela”& ‘Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke’. All were staged multiple times, but last two were staged recently at Prithvi in Jul 2023.
• As a playwright written adaptation of ten plays in Hindi based on plays of world’s famous playwrights like Mario Vergas Llosa, Athol Fugard, Terence Rattigan, Aleksei Arbuzov, Eric Chappell, Tom Dudzick and Henrik Ibsen.
• Organizer of ‘Ibsen Festival’ in Mumbai, a yearly theatre event, initially with Norwegian Embassy, Delhi and later with the Norwegian Consulate General, Mumbai for the last nine years as its Festival Director/Actor/ Playwright.
• Adapted & produced world famous Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s plays ‘Lady from the Sea’, ‘Peer Gynt’, ‘Ghosts’, & ‘Hedda Gabler’ in Hindi.
• Acted in the Title Role of Bilquis Bibi in the English play ‘The House of Bilquis Bibi’ in London, UK
• Ila Has been associated in all departments of theatre for over 50 years & acted in over 300 shows of various plays.

In Films: Hindi Bollywood

• Introduced into films by renowned film director Shyam Benegal starting with ‘Mandi’ & later with Govind Nihalani’s ‘Ardha- Satya’in 1982, She has acted in over 50 feature films since.
• Acted in Web series ‘ARYA 3’ on Disney-Hotstar, & awaiting release of film ‘Gul Gul-e-Bakawali’.
• In the past year, 3 feature films ‘Mr. Mommy’, ‘Haddi’ & ‘Kuchh Khatta Ho Jaye’ were released.
• 4 films released in last 4 years on various OTT platforms; ‘Ghoomketu’,‘Raat Akeli Hai’, ‘Chhalang’ & ‘Call Your Agent’.
• Have acted in major roles in Bollywood films like ‘Thugs Of Hindustan (2018), ‘Manto’ which was lauded at Cannes Film Festival (2018),‘Begum Jaan’ (2017), & Children’s film “Gauru” (2016).
• Jodha Akbar, ‘Welcome to Sajjanpur’,-Were Nominated for best supporting actor.
• Other notable films are ‘Well Done Abba’, ‘Mirch’, ‘Aagah’, ‘Ghatak’, ‘Chingari’,‘China Gate’.
• Acted in a Major Role in the British film ‘West is West’ (2009); the role was greatly lauded at Toronto, London, Abu Dhabi & Goa International Film Festivals.

In TV:

• Been Judge on Door Darshan’s- Kisan channel TV musical reality show ‘Maati Ke Laal’.
• Also been judge for NDTV & SONY TV on their musical reality shows.
• Was Twice amongst Jury for ‘Star Screen Film Awards’ organized by Indian Express Newspapers.
• Have been jury member for Music Awards organized yearly by various FM radio stations.

Production Activities:

• Produced TV reality show “Mein Khayal Hoon Kisi Aur Ka, Mujh Sochta koi Aur Hai” For DD-URDU channel in 2013.
• Produced over 300 shows of Hindi plays under own banner ‘Surnai Theatre And Folk Arts Foundation’ and ‘Antardhwani Productions’.
• Co-produced Music Videos with “Tips Music” under own banner ‘Antardhwani Productions’.
• Produced short films on Kashmiri stories, shot in Kashmir for STAR TV under own banner ‘Onamasi Films’.
• Also produced Ibsen plays for outside directors in Marathi, Gujarati, and Malayalam & English languages. Produced English plays by Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse and American Tammy Ryan.

Awards, Honours & Affiliations:

• Fellowship award from the Rajasthan Sahitya Natak Academy in 2022.
• King’s Order of Merit- Knight 1st Class from King Harald V of Norway in Nov 2018.
• Received ‘Best Adult Actor’ Award for children’s film ‘Gauru’ in China in Nov 2017.
• Nominated for major roles in films ‘Jodha Akbar’ & ‘Welcome to Sajjanpur’ in 2009 for Star-Screen Awards, Mumbai.
• Invited and nominated for ‘Jodha Akbar’ at the IIFA awards held in Macau (Hong Kong).
• Invited to Norway for Ibsen Festival in 2012 & 2014 in Oslo as observer, and for ‘Lillehammer Literature Festival’ in 2017 as ‘Performer enacting a theatre scene with Norwegian actor Kare Conradi’. Invited by the University of Oslo to Skien in Norway for participating in ‘Ibsen Conference in Sep 2018’ for presentation of a paper on Ibsen.
• Invited by the ‘Smithsonian Institution’, Washington DC, USA to give lecture-cum-demonstration on Traditional ‘Folk Dances & Music of Rajasthan’ accompanied by folk artistes.
• Received Filmfare’s Best Female Singer Award for the song ‘Choli Ke Peechhey Kya Hai’ with Alka Yagnik.
• Received Indian Music Industries’ Best Diva Award for the title song of ‘Nigodi Kaisi Jawani Hai’.
• Nominated for best supporting actress for the film ‘West is West’ in International Film Festivals.
• Invited for Retrospective of her films for 3rd Ireland Film Festival, Dublin in 2012.
• Member of ‘CINTA’ (Actors’ Union in India) & ex-member of Cine Scriptwriter’s Association.

Charitable Social Services:

• Did a film ‘ASTHAA’ for free on awareness of leprosy and the lives of lepers in India.
• Did a film ‘SURMANTHAN’for free on the awareness to the problems of the deaf & dumb people.
• Did a film with Shyam Benegal for free on weavers of Andhra Pradesh.
• Have been promoting folk culture of Rajasthan by using folk artists in all ‘Ila Arun Musical Shows’ in India and abroad.
• During Covid lock-down distributed food grains & essentials to folk artists in their villages as well as to needy theatre artistes in Mumbai.
• Conducting free work-shops and seminars for young actors and technicians for the last 40 years.
• Have done Live Folk shows in Mumbai and Pune for CPAA (Cancer Patients Aid Association).