Phaldut Sharma

It’s been quite overwhelming, actually. I feel like I am floating,” is how Phaldut Sharma — earlier known as Paul — aptly summarises the experience of being part of the year’s biggest Holly film.

t2 caught up with the 35-year-old British actor-dancer of Indian origin on the Gravity experience, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, and what it means to be an Indian actor in the West.

When Alfonso Cuaron came to you with Gravity, it was a one-scene role where you would be heard but not seen. Despite that, what made you say ‘yes’?

Two years ago, Alfonso had called me to do a preliminary voice audition for a role in Gravity. At that time, the script was only a 20-page pitch. I went because I had already worked with him in Children of Men (2006). Because it was just 20 pages, I had no idea what the whole film was about. Even when I was signed on, I really wasn’t sure what I would be asked to do because there was a great air of confidentiality around the project. But somehow, my trust in Alfonso and my instincts told me that it would be the right thing on my part to do this film. My screen time didn’t matter.

It was only when I started shooting that I realised what we were in the middle of… the sheer scale of the film and the kind of technology that was being used. It was also the first time that I saw a crew so dumbfounded on set because they were getting to know the film piece by piece every single day. There were brand new pieces of shooting equipment… many of which were invented especially for this film. There was always the air that something grand was being made.

While on set, did you ever get the feeling that it would be such a path-breaking film?

I was getting that impression, yes. Especially when you hear someone like James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar) say things like ‘This is going to be the best sci-fi film ever’. Gravity has changed the way that 3D technology is used in films. Gravity has shown us that the use of 3D may not always be gimmicky like the way it is at Universal Studios or something (laughs), but can actually be immersive and feed itself into the story.

Take us through that engrossing 17-minute opening sequence with George Clooney, Sandra Bullock and you in space repairing your shuttle… before disaster strikes.

After all that confidentiality, I was quite excited to see what I was finally doing in that studio. It was so overwhelming to see that entire scene unravel in front of my eyes… where there are just three of us in space, a voice (Houston) from down below and an ethereal silence. The way Alfonso directed that scene was amazing, really. It drew me in straightaway. After we shot for it, the scene was enhanced visually, yet the emotional core remained intact. That first scene is so strong that it just pulls the viewer into the story immediately… almost drags you in! (Laughs)

All we know about your character Shariff is his name. What kind of a backstory did Alfonso give you about him?

That he’s a man going about his business. What Alfonso told me is that Shariff’s role in the film… his purpose… is to lighten the mood before the disaster that takes place minutes later. What I liked about Shariff is that he is a bit of a clown… very childlike and playful.

Every Indian ear has caught on Shariff humming Mera joota hai Japani (Shree 420) in the opening sequence. What’s the story behind that?

(Laughs) While fixing the shuttle, Shariff spontaneously breaks out into a song. The writers had initially settled on a swelling symphony Bollywood-type song, but I didn’t feel that was right. If Shariff was that playful guy, he had to sing something that was light and fun. I just felt that Mera joota hai Japani had that very light and free quality that would suit Shariff. He’s a guy who holds life at arm’s length and this is the sort of song he would sing at anytime. Also, while he’s looking down, he’s seeing Russia and Japan and the UK and he feels that ‘I may be on this huge space mission, but my heart is Hindustani’. This song has a sense of family, of belonging and yet speaks about the sharing between cultures. It also has a celebratory tone.

How was it sharing screen space with George Clooney and Sandra Bullock?

Well, we actually all did our parts separately. However, one day, I popped on set to see Sandra doing a scene and that’s when it hit me that ‘Wow, look at the technology we are using!’ My jaw just fell to the ground. Sandra was performing a choreographed piece that looked like she was on the monitor spilling out into mid-air. Off set, Sandra is a lovely, lovely person. She is just one of those people who you just like from the very first minute. She’s intelligent, she’s playful… you know, that lovely cocktail of child and woman. George... I didn’t get to meet!

And here we were about to ask you whether he’s as good-looking in real life!

(Laughs out loud) Well, I am sure he is… he definitely is. Every woman in this world thinks he is… so there has to be some truth there!

As an Indian actor working in the West, do you still face the danger of being stereotyped or do you see things improving?

Things are definitely shifting. In Hollywood, there’s this huge change where a lot of Asian actors are coming into the mainstream. But if you are black or Asian, there will of course be a limitation in terms of the roles that can be offered to you because the main lead in most Hollywood films will not be from the subcontinent. The process of becoming more multicultural will be different for film industries in different countries. I have been fortunate to have worked in theatre, television and cinema, and there is a shift happening. It’s an inevitability that will happen soon because the Internet and films have made us a global community.

Finally, why did you change your name to Phaldut?

Well, I have been looking at using my original name, which is Phaldut, for the past few years, but I was working on my TV show EastEnders with Paul Sharma in the credits. The show ends next month. I have decided that if I have to do it, now’s the time to do it. Paul is a nickname I grew up hearing in school and it just sort of stuck. But now, I want to use my real name, Phaldut.

EastEnders

Name: Phaldut Sharma

Age: 35

Notable roles: EastEnders

(A.J. Ahmed), Casualty (Vinnay Ramdas), Meet the Magoons (Paul) and The Office (Sanj)

Twitter bio: Actor, Singer, Dancer... but only on the weekends!