Q: Why do you believe that Indians haven’t yet crossed over to international cinema?
Because we have not. For me, real crossover will happen when an Indian actor essays a major role in a Hollywood film. Or from a film point, till we don’t make something like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Q: What is American Blend all about?
It’s an American film (not a crossover) by an NRI which deals with cross- cultural issues. I play a happy-go-lucky first generation Punjabi who had migrated years back from Delhi to LA and became a chef in a restaurant called Bollywood Café. His two main loves are Indian films (hence there is a lot of song and dance) and food. After his first wife’s death, he gets married to an American — Dee Wallace Stone (ET fame). They have three children, two of Raj and one of Dee. The story revolves around the ups and down of a family because of the cultural intervention. The matter takes a turn for the worse, when a dangerous secret regarding the children come out.

Q: Does the film give any message?
No, all it says is that no culture is right or wrong. We should not be prejudiced towards others, rather we should try to imbibe their good traits like dignity of labour.

Q: Have you created any false accent for this West film?
No, in all my West films (Bend It Like Beckham, Hope And A Little Sugar) I speak in my normal English accent, it’s that firang mentality that forces people to use that accent. One of my aunts lived 20 years in the US and did not grow an accent and another young cousin came back with an accent in three months flat. People who don’t have confidence in themselves use such stunts to integrate themselves in their environment. At times, I wonder why we wish to pronounce the names of Westerners correctly, do they take our names correctly?

Q: Why do you think that all-Indian stars want to break into Hollywood, when they are getting huge successes back home?
It’s sad that even after ghulami of 200 years, just a Westerner face and English language gives us a kick. It’s a shame that we feel inferior to speak our own mother tongue.

Q: Difference between working here and there?
Although both industries are extremely talented, where I think we lack is sheer professionalism. In Hollywood, for a 7 am shoot, you have to report on time. You cannot say, I am big star, so wait for me. They work according to bound scripts, and every thing is planned to the T.

Q: What are you doing in your limited sphere to change this?
I have started my acting academy where I try to instil this very professionalism in my students. I also teach them the basics of acting. My main advice to them is to be your own self, for if you try to ape others, you will get nowhere for no one will replace you for them. The recent trend is that even Hollywood is scouting for Indian talents.

Q: What do you think is the reason behind it?
It’s not as if they have suddenly discovered our talent. It’s sheer economics which is forcing Hollywood to start scouting for Indians. These studios know that India is becoming a huge market for their films, hence they are using Indian actors in character like a doctor, a lawyer or a friend, just as we have a Chinese in every other American film.

Q: You have played many different genres, comedy (Ram Lakhan), serious (Saarransh), negative (Karma), which do you like the best?
We as actors always have to reinvent ourselves for if we don’t, we will not survive. I have been here for more then 20 years. I had to do a variety of roles like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Daddy, Chaalbaaz and so on. Even now, all my above three current films will have me in completely different avataars.

Q: What differences do you see between 22 years ago, when you first came to Mumbai and now?
There is a whole world of difference; back then Indians were starved of sources of entertainment. So I used to jokingly say that we Indians have just two forms of entertainments — make children and watch movies. But today, there is a whole world of entertainment apart from cinema, that is, malls, games, Internet and last but not the least television — 122 channels at that. Now the audiences are more discerning and they are rejecting stuff left, right and centre. The growing power of the media is yet another example of change. When I first started years back, it took me a year to get my photo in a film newspaper and that day I was so happy that I purchased 20 copies and posted to my detractors who were questioning what the hell I was doing in Mumbai. And these days, without doing anything you can get featured in Page 3 — just grease some palms.

Q: Your upcoming projects?
I am in Khosla Ka Ghosla with Boman Irani and then there is Jaan-e-Mann where I play a dwarf friend of Salman Khan.

Q: Was it tough to play a dwarf?
You bet. I had to fold my legs and it was very painful. The reason I took up this role was that I play a dwarf who does not work in a circus, rather he is a lawyer who goes though life just like you and me. The discrimination he faces due to his shortness has been very well brought out by the director.

Q: There is an item number in Khosla Ka Ghosla?
At least both of us have worn clothes and danced, possible that is what is angering the critics who are panning us. See, it’s a small film which needs publicity, hence the song. As for the tag ‘item number’, it’s also been coined by the media.

Q: It’s being touted that you have won the National Award for your role in Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Mara?
Even I am hearing this for the past one month, but as I have not received any official intimation, I better reserve any comments till that happens.

(Sampurn)

Boman Speak

Q: Last year was eclectic and exciting for you. How about this year?

You’re right. Last year I had an up and a down, too. Sujoy Ghosh’s Home Delivery was a downer. But never mind. Sujoy will learn. I’d happily do his next film. You can’t cling only to successful people all the time. Then you never learn. I feel some of the things that I learnt during Home Delivery were not there to be learnt even in Munna Bhai. Something went amiss. It’s okay. Let’s not go on and on about. Give Sujoy another chance. He’s ready with two more scripts. That’s the spirit…. I also had Waqt and My Wife’s Murder last year. I enjoyed them immensely. I can’t bear saying this myself. But I immensely enjoyed playing my character in My Wife’s Murder.

Q: And this year?

Homi Adjania’s Being Cyrus was released. Now I’ve Dibakar Banerjee’s Khosla Ka Ghosla, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Eklavya, Farhan Akhtar’s Don and Rajkumar Hirani’s Laage Raho Munna Bhai, and a cameo in Naseeruddin Shah’s film, Yun Hota To Kya Hota. He said he had a role that he wanted only me to do. There was no question of not doing it.

Q: What do you do in Don?

I play D’Silva. I saw Don as a kid. Images of Amitabh Bachchan running through the dhobi ghat are still alive in my mind. Today when I had a chance to be part of that movie experience why should I deny myself the privilege? I love what Farhan Akhtar is doing in Don…the fast cars, the gadgets, beautiful women…the whole slick flick thing.

Q: Do you enjoy being famous?

I bask in the affection I get on the streets. Recently, I went into the kitchen of a restaurant to meet the cooks. They were people I didn’t know. But what a joy it was meet them! Such experiences wouldn’t happen if I was doing only one kind of cinema.I’m happy as long as the actor in me gets something to chew on.

Q: And now you pair with

Shabana Azmi….

Yes, in Reema Kagti’s Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. The film has an ensemble cast of honeymooning couples, and we are the oldest.

Q: But you’re really not that old?

Yes. But we’ll play old. Shabana and I don’t exactly look like honeymooners, do we? When we arrive at the hotel for our honeymoon all the young honeymooners are welcomed…and then they look at us. It’s been a joy interacting with Shabana and the rest of the cast. Shabana and I had met at the Locarno film festival. We had really let our hair down in Locarno when I was there with my first film, Let’s Talk. Since then we’ve bumped into each other and had long conversations.

Q: This role will take you away from the ‘character’ slot.

Yes, in the sense that I’ve a leading lady this time. Though I must add Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd is an ensemble piece. Shabana and I hope to be cogs in the wheel. That’s the only way the film works. What makes this one doubly challenging is that I’m working with a new director again. No one can accuse me of not working with new directors. In my 15 films so far at least 10 have been with first-time directors. I’m so proud of being part of the growth of directors like Ram Madhvani, Farah Khan, Raju Hirani and Ruchi Narain. It’s a joy to sit and listen to the ideas that these freshers have in their heads.

Q: Ruchi Narain’s Kal was very strange.

I didn’t enjoy that film at all. But one is allowed a film that goes wrong once in a while. I think everything got confused on the editing table. We could see the kachumbar. Anyway Reema has our support in Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. Shabana and I are having a lot of fun. There are lots of talents in this film including a very young bright girl called Shahana. So the spectrum for me goes all the way from Shabana to Shahana.

Q: Are you having an affair?

Sorry. I’m a boring old Parsi. No affairs for me. It’s so wonderful to have a family to come home to, to sit with them pull each other’s leg…to lose all of that, for what?!