About
Bruna Abdullah is a Brazilian-Indian actor and model who has carved a colorful niche in Bollywood since the late 2000s. Born on 24 October 1986 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, to a Lebanese father and an Italian-Portuguese mother, she first grabbed attention with the sultry dance number “Subha Hone Na De” in Desi Boyz (2011) and went on to play memorable parts such as Giselle in I Hate Luv Storys (2010) and Mary in the adult comedy hit Grand Masti (2013). Her easygoing screen presence, athletic frame, and comfort with Hindi, English, and Portuguese helped her switch between films, music videos, and reality television without missing a beat. Even after nearly two decades in India, she still brings a breezy outsider’s perspective that audiences find refreshing.
Before Fame
Long before red carpets and photo calls, Bruna’s life revolved around everyday goals in Brazil. As a teenager she worked at a bank and dabbled in local beauty contests, hoping to win the cash prize rather than the crown. Modeling assignments followed, and commercials for global labels nudged her toward Mumbai. She arrived in India in her early twenties on what was meant to be a short modeling trip, but a string of ad campaigns for Lakmé, IndusInd Bank, and Reebok—as well as a cameo in the action film Cash (2007)—made staying the obvious choice. Within five years she had moved from ramp shows to lead roles, crediting her quick rise to relentless auditions, a knack for languages, and a willingness to take on any challenge, whether it was hanging from helicopters in Khatron Ke Khiladi or rehearsing elaborate routines for the dance series Dancing Queen.
Trivia
- Reality-show regular: Bruna joined Season 2 of Khatron Ke Khiladi in 2009, survived an early elimination, and returned as a wild-card contestant before bowing out for good on 24 September 2009. Years later she competed on Nach Baliye 6 with choreographer Omar Farooque, lasting several weeks despite limited formal dance training.
- Polyglot performer: Besides Portuguese and English, she speaks conversational Hindi and basic Marathi—skills she picked up through daily life in Mumbai.
- Fitness first: A certified yoga enthusiast, she mixes vinyasa flows with Muay Thai drills and often shares workout snippets on Instagram, inspiring followers to try headstands or plank challenges.
- Magazine favorite: She has graced covers of Maxim India and several fashion glossies, happily switching from red-carpet gowns to beachwear in the same shoot.
- Animal lover: Bruna frequently fosters stray puppies until permanent homes are found, crediting her mother for instilling compassion for street animals.
Family Life
In mid-2018 Bruna said “I do” on a pristine hillside in Santorini, marrying long-time Scottish partner Allan Fraser in an intimate ceremony attended by close friends and both families. The couple welcomed daughter Isabella on 31 August 2019 and announced her arrival with a joyful Instagram post that melted hearts across the internet. Bruna later opened up about her natural water birth, describing it as the most empowering experience of her life. The family divides time between Mumbai and Glasgow, juggling Allan’s project-management work with Bruna’s shoots and Isabella’s preschool adventures. Though the actor still travels for film and brand projects, she schedules work in blocks so she can enjoy uninterrupted stretches of parenting—often chronicling kitchen dance parties, beach picnics, and bedtime stories for her 2-million-plus followers.
Associated With
Bruna’s Bollywood journey has seen her collaborate with a lively mix of stars and filmmakers:
- Akshay Kumar & John Abraham – shimmied alongside them in the chart-busting “Subha Hone Na De,” a song that continues to dominate wedding playlists.
- Imran Khan & Sonam Kapoor – shared screen time in Punit Malhotra’s rom-com I Hate Luv Storys, adding breezy comic relief as the stylish Giselle.
- Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi, Aftab Shivdasani – delivered cheeky laughs opposite this trio in Grand Masti, which became the highest-grossing A-rated Indian film of 2013.
- Salman Khan – appeared in the ensemble action drama Jai Ho (2014), directed by Sohail Khan, strengthening her foothold in mainstream cinema.
- Rohit Shetty – tested her fear threshold under his watchful eye on Khatron Ke Khiladi, an experience she still calls the toughest workweek of her life.
