Freida Pinto brands Woody Allen as different
posted in Bollywood News |
Freida Pinto recently met her second international director Woody Allen for her upcoming role in his flick and she found him interesting, shy and different. Read her interview below…
How did you bag the Woody Allen film?
I am represented by CAA, one of the most powerful agencies in Hollywood. It was through them that I got this role. I met Woody Allen a few days after the Oscars and that’s how it happened.
How has the interaction with Woody Allen been?
I would describe my meeting with Woody Allen as “different”. He’s a shy and reticent director but one with a beautiful vision. It will be a dream-come-true since I was a literature student and I studied Woody Allen’s plays back in college.
Which is your favourite Woody Allen film?
Matchpoint.
A lot is being said about how your casting in a Woody Allen film might pave the way for a change in the way Indian actors are offered roles of cabbies and doctors in Hollywood films. Do you agree?
I hope it does as it isn’t good to be typecast and globalization of films is an emerging trend. Also, crossover films are being made in a bigger way, thereby creating many more opportunities for our talent.
What was a bigger high for you – rubbing shoulders with so many Hollywood actors at all the award ceremonies or rejoicing when Rahman got the award?
Both were different and gave me a different high. For an Indian actor, meeting Hollywood stars was a great experience as you meet people and understand how the business of cinema works at their end. And as Indians, seeing Rahman perform at the Kodak Theatre gave us a sense of pride, in addition to feeling that Rahman really deserved every bit of what he got. He is a composer whose music can paint beautiful pictures and transport you to an altogether different realm.
You’ve already become a style icon internationally. Do you see yourself endorsing Indian designers any further?
I’ve always said that our designers are very talented and unique in their offering and I would love to be dressed by an Indian designer.
Does an offer to do a typical Bollywood romance excite you any longer?
I never started with Bollywood or Hollywood. My dream was always to be part of meaningful cinema, no matter which part of the globe it came from. Hence, a Hindi film romance that catches my fancy would always be welcome.
Given a great script opposite a star in his 40s and a great script opposite a two or three-film-old kid on the block, which would you choose and why?
I made my debut with Slumdog, where we were all newcomers, so I can’t go to the extent of choosing my co-stars. We were on a different level altogether as our little film made it so big. The passion and heart that you put into making a film is what makes it what it is.
What’s the first thing you wish to do once you return to India?
Eat homemade Indian food. Westerners should know that curry isn’t our staple diet.
Does the US become your base or would you, like Resul Pookutty, want to still retain India as your base?
I prefer being called a world citizen. I want to give the world as much as possible in terms of cinema; India being a huge part of it. There’s always a bigger sense of achievement once you reach out to a wider audience.
What are the other offers in the pipeline ?
Two films – one is with Woody Allen. The other will be announced shortly.
Congratulation’s Freida for achieving so much in a short span of time. Well we hope she is able sustain her new success for a long time.
