India needs to make movies that are original to shine at international platforms such as the Oscars, says veteran actor Anupam Kher.
“It is sad that we needed Richard Attenborough to make Gandhi [for us] and win eight Oscars. It is important to have a certain kind of originality,” said Kher, whose debut movie Saaransh was India’s official entry to the Oscars. “We need to make movies which come out of our own land and are about our issues, our problems and our celebrations.”
The actor is basking in the glory of his Hollywood film Silver Linings Playbook which also features Hollywood actors Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper. Kher plays a psychiatrist called Patel in the film that has won various honours at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
“It is primarily my first American film and it has been on a winning spree at various award functions. It is a great sense of achievement and it is satisfying to be a part of such a film with such a cast. It also makes you feel proud as an Indian,” said Kher.
In a career spanning over three decades, the 57-year-old has been a part of international projects like Bend It Like Beckham, Bride And Prejudice, Conquest, Lust?, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger and, most recently, Silver Linings Playbook.
He also feels that it’s a good change that American films require Indian actors. “It is a demand and supply situation,” he said. “They’re not changing their work formula to help Indian actors fit in.”
“They don’t make films thinking ‘let’s take an Indian actor today or a Chinese actor today’. That’s not their agenda. But, yes, Silver Linings has given me recognition internationally and that’s a great sense of achievement,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2013.
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