| | | HINDI-CHINI BEHEN-BEHEN: Kareena Kapoor in 36 China Town. This film has foreigners as extras. Pic: Sujit Jaiswal | If you are a fair-skinned westerner passing through Bombay, beguiled by, "Hey, you, wanna be in the movies?" line, and the promise of Rs 500 for a day's work, you could find your 15 seconds of fame in the Hindi film industry.
Budding film stars are recruited each morning from the traveller hangouts and hotels of Colaba. As the pavement agent bundles the tourists into a taxi, the aspiring actors chatter excitedly about their big break.
Alas, their dreams of a movie star lifestyle are quickly shattered, when they arrive at Churchgate station, and are promptly herded into a rush hour suburban train, bound for one of the film studios in the western suburbs.
First step
Once the prospective stars have managed to fight their way off the train, they are shepherded to the studio, where the first stop is wardrobe. Here, fame seekers learn an important lesson in the caste system.
At the top, the Khans, the Bachchans et al arrive on set immaculately attired and looking every inch the super star. The newcomers however, are led to a shared dressing room. We are handed frayed-at-the-collar suits and tentatively-held-together-with-a-safety-pin evening dresses.
Finished in wardrobe, the actors are now ready to be thrust into stardom. On the set of Salaam E Ishq, a fellow Englishman innocently enquires what we are supposed to do.
"Act, just act", is the curt reply from a casually attired 30-something in faded jeans. Taken aback, he moans, "Who is that guy and why is he always shouting? He can't be an actor?" an observation made no doubt on an appearance that is about as unkempt as our own. "That guy," I say, "is Nikhil Advani, the director."
Later that day, on the same shoot, the world of the foreign extra produces further comic tragedy, as an Australian gap year student playing a waiter, unceremoniously drops a tray of drinks, interrupting Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra in their attempt to lip-synch their way through the title track.
Another set, another suit, another pair of sandals. This time, an American tourist on a three-month tour of India. We are shooting for Abbas-Mustan's 36 China Town, and we privileged two are selected for an enviable position behind a dancing Kareena Kapoor. In between takes, a tourist points at her, and asks loudly, "Say, is she famous at all?" "Yes you could say she is famous," I grimace, all the while praying that Kapoor somehow didn't hear.
Another Kapur, this time Shahid. The name Shahid Kapur may not be an internationally recognised one as yet, but it is agreed that behind his ever present sunglasses, he has the movie star good looks to become one. First step
Johny Lever is a movie star who may not have the conventional good looks of Shahid, but that doesn't matter when you are one of India's top comic actors. Alas, Johny Lever's standing was unknown to a thirsty Swedish girl in an undersized, and in the studio lights, almost transparent dress.
It was only through a crew member's swift intervention, that she was prevented from ordering garam chai from this veteran of over a hundred films under the assumption that he was a spot boy.
Dear viewer, the next time you sit down to watch a Bollywood movie, look beyond the big name stars, disregard the current hero and heroine, and pay attention to the fair and lovely foreigner in the background. Applaud their acting. Idolise their outfits. Be dazzled by their dreadlocks. Salaam their sandals. Their 15 seconds starts now. |
Anupamaa
Naagin 7
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