Hollywood Hoppers

Many a few Indian Actors are ostracizing the word 'Bollywood'. Thus, setting accolades of the fact that we ourselves have a distinct identity and we even demand highly for it. Bollywood is a copy of word Hollywood, the B representing Bombay, thus it actually doesn't represent the whole diaspora of Indian Cinema. At a recent international film award function Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah expressed their sorrow against the use of the word. But if we hate the word so much and don't want to be typecasted, what's with this Indian actor's Hollywood Hopping Trend? If we recall clearly, a few months ago during the release of Ram Gopal Varma's Nishabd, the De Niro of Indian Cinema Amitabh Bachchan crossly mentioned the whole craze of 'proving ourselves in Hollywood' that has taken the form of a forest fire in Bollywood. According to him, Indian actors herd there to do insignificant roles at times.

WOW, Big B you are surely making a point!
OUCH! Just a day ago, the headline punched, 'Amitabh Bachchan To Work With Johnny Depp in Mira Nair's new venture.' We really hope the role goes above what you feared Amitji.

Recollecting a few 'Hollywood Lure Runs', one would be that of Mallika Sherawat's hype on working with Jackie Chan in 'Myth'. At International film festival upon asking Jackie why he chose to have Mallika in his film, he simple turned and said 'she had a great pair!' So is this what Indian Actors are suppose to do in the West, celebrated cameos with no 'significant' artistry in the pursuit! Talking about Hollywood Cameos, we even saw small screen actor, Gaurav Chopra doing just a three-minute stint in Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Conelly starrer Blood Diamond. He played the part of a journalist with not even one audible dialogue to his credit. Poor Gaurav justified it with the story that his dialogues were cut down due to some timely restrictions.

There was also a period, when in Hollywood, Indians were seriously stereotyped for somebody typically non-western (you know that outlook of westerners that India is a country of snake charmers or farmers). Lets take an early Indian jumper of the west, the yesteryear's hunk, Kabir Bedi. He ventured into many Italian films, played an interesting part in small screen big serial 'Bold And Beautiful' as a Moroccan Prince Omar and also appeared in Hollywood flicks like Octopussy, Thief Of Baghdad and The Black Pirate. But when asked to comment over Indian Actors and Hollywood he said, 'roles that are offered to Indian Actors in the West tend to limit themselves to stereotypical images that Westerners have of non-Westerners.' So that proves the point! If you still don't believe it, deem the spot full face of not a very good-looking Indian actor but an artist with astounding potential, Om Puri. He grabbed roles in movies like City Of Joy in 1992, where he played an Indian Farmer and East Is East where he was a Pakistani Father. Both roles though had wide character potential where stereotypically set to Asian traits.

One more food for thought is, many of these movies our actors do are puffed-about with such glory that it appears as if they are playing the lead in the next Bond Movie or something more major! Take for example, Salman Khan and Marigold. Where on earth have we heard of director Willard Carroll and actress Ali Larter? No we do not say, they aren't popular but why so much hype about the whole thing? Recently, King of Style John Abraham signed up a Canadian Director's film to play lead opposite Rachel Wiesz in a movie about American environmentalist's fight to save famous redwood tree of California. He is also a PETA activist, if I recall. Ok John, great going in the international nature preservation scenarios, but isn't India too, stuck with lot of environmental issues, can we so something, oops some movies about that?

Following tracks is our droopy eyed, intense looking actor, Irrfan Khan who has currently finished a Hollywood movie opposite Anjelina Jolie called 'A Might Heart' directed by Micheal Winterbottom. And is singing songs of glory at Cannes along with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

If this wasn't enough grub then seize this. Aishwarya Rai tops the list in Hollywood Hopping. Making her debut in the West with Gurinder Chaddha's Bride and Prejudice co-starring Martin Henderson she then appeared in Jagmohan Mudhra's 'Provoked' and Gurinder's 'Mistress of spices'. At present she has more than 10 Hollywood projects in her hand prominent ones being the Meryl Streep-starrer 'Chaos', Michael Douglas' 'Racing the Monsoon', Shekhar Kapoor's forthcoming movie based on the life of Lord Buddha opposite Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt, she might work in 'Mr. Surprises' against Hollywood super stars Keanu Reeves and Jude Law, on news is also Rolland Joffe's much-delayed 'Singularity' against British actor Brandon Fraser, PHEW….
That's what I call HOLLYWOOD CRAZY!

"It is better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven, even if that is considered heaven. I think, they also make films as we do. I would rather make a good film here than to go to Hollywood," says Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Director Madhur Bhandarkar gives his consent on the point that Bollywood actors have not been able to harvest significant roles in Hollywood films. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan was also cited saying that he was only approached for stereotyped Hollywood roles of a Hindu beggar, a turban-wearing soldier or something similar.

Clearing the fact that, this is no implore against any of these actors. But the only fact that eats on is, Indian film industry literally churns 1000 films a year, we are quite self sufficient with the concoction. We do masala, classic, art, offbeat and even crossovers. We pay our actors to a point when their bank accounts are more than BMC budgets. And if we talk about more benefits I would have to write part 1, 2,3,4…! So, why such a Hollywood Hopping?

Keeping all the differences aside, we understand our actor's needs to do something new and different. A change is not only a recreational need but also a professional need. But considering the facts and figures of Indian Cinema even if these actors do one film a year in one natural, political, social etc. scenarios, it would last their lifetime of diverse needs. And still, if they wish to venture out, leave aside the hype and noise please, a request to the 'partner in crime' - media too!