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We've no place in Hollywood films: Big B

By Subhash K Jha
Saturday, 01 May , 2004, 11:19

At a time when major Hindi stars barring Shah Rukh Khan are eyeing Hollywood with special fondness, and employing agents to get them films out there, India’s foremost mega-star is totally against the trend.

In an uncharacteristically passionate outburst AB wonders why so much is being made of Bollywood’s presence in Hollywood.

"Going to Hollywood isn’t the same as going to Bandra (a suburb in Mumbai). If I do film in the West it’d be a strictly professional decision. If someone comes with an agreeable subject I’ll just do it as another assignment. What’s the big deal? I do get offers. But nothing to run for."

Harking back to the stereotypical portrayal of Peter Sellers’ bumbling Indian in The Party, Bachchan questions, "What would an Indian be doing in a Hollywood film? We’re the wrong colour. I’m not interested in playing a stereotype. If it’s New York they visualize Indians as newspaper vendors, taxi drivers, motel owner or an anachronistic Maharaja indulging in lascivious pleasures with a spear in his hand. Sorry, not interested! Did our greatest dramatic actor Dilip Kumar ever go West to prove he’s the best? This continuous pressure about when I’m going to Hollywood...no! If I ever do a film in Hollywood it’ll just be another film. They’re not inventing a rocket."

At the same time Amitabh Bachchan is happy about the recognition being proffered to Hindi cinema in the West.

"You know when a country does well for itself everything about it becomes desirable. Because India has opened up economically the West is interested in us. There was the posh Selfridges in London holding an India festival with the stress on cinema. After 70 years of bashing the West is beginning to acknowledge our films. This is the way we make films. Accept it. The West has the advantage of invention, but then so have we. Where do you think the ‘O’ and yoga came from? Now we have Hindi words entering the English-language dictionary."

Continuously disapproving of the term ‘Bollywood’ coined to describe Hindi cinema the Big B sorrowfully accepts the term’s legitimization.

"Unfortunately Bollywood has entered the Oxford dictionary. Because we’re in awe of Western endorsement we’ve no choice buy to accept such terminologies. This is a very minor acceptance for us. I formly believe the Indian will not find a place in the West unless he’s of some social relevance to their society. We are not. They’ve no place for us in their films, and neither have we a place for them in our films. For a long time because of our colonial history, white characters were portrayed as villains. Lagaan is the most recent example. So please, let’s not get carried away. Agreed, we should appreciate their technical polish and professionalism."

The lucid superstar is also dismissive of Hindi cinema’s craving for an Oscar.

"Every other journalist asks me when I’ll win an Oscar. I think that’s a stupid question. We aren’t making films in the English language, so how can we qualify for the mainstream Oscars? Let them come here and make films in Hindi. Why is there such a strong attraction for Indian actors to go to the West? For me our own system of recognition is good enough. Every sixth person in the world is an Indian. I’m happy to be recognized by 1/6th of the world population."

When reminded of his huge strardom AB gets seriously ironical.

"Arrey kahan! According to Mr Mahesh Bhatt Amitabh Bachchan is dead and buried. He said a couple of years ago that the public should give me a decent burial. If that’s how he feels why write about my experience in Dubai? Just remember, there’s always another side to every story. Mahesh Bhatt wasn’t present at the event in Dubai. He doesn’t know the facts. Mr Amar Singh was there. He’s better equipped to know the truth. Besides if Mr Mahesh Bhatt buried me why does he want to resurrect me by talking about me?"

I hope younger generations are less
'challenged' by the Hollywood
issue.
This outburst is rather typical
isn't it? A mixture of admiring and
condemning Hollywood/The West.
A mixture of stressing how proud
you are of your culture and how
you couldn't care less about
approval from 'them' and at the
same time a thinly veiled anger
about the decades of rejection
and ridicule (real or imagined)
and a feeling of inferiority that
needs to be covered up with
statements like these.

HMM!! We have PLACE FOR REMAKES only..Mr BIG B!!

Who is Mahesh Bhatt to even talk? That dirty runt of an old man makes the worse films in the Indian film industry (mostly hollywood rip-offs) and he speaks ill of the industry's most popular actor. Isn't it about time that Mr Bhatt died?

Anyway back to the topic, AB is right that most roles for Indians would be stereotypical and I remember Jimi mistry said the same thing (though he himself contributed to this stereotype with The Guru). Usually if an Indian has a role in Hollywood it would be a shopkeeper (California man), A Doctor (Analyse this) or a cab driver (Romeo must die). But then again, Indians are not known for much else in the US. I can't really imagine them to play soldiers, secret agents, gangsters or police officers in US films, but they can do so in Indian films.

The problem with Bollywood is they shamelessly copied many hollywood films and they want the west to recognise their industry with respect? Why should they be recognised? It they make films just to keep the masses happy, they should just concentrate on that. If they want recognition from the west, they have alot of growing up to do! For a start they have to learn how to make decent films. They did so with Lagaan and a few others, so they can do so again, but I believe most of the directors are lazy, untalented and some just don't have a clue - so copying Hollywood (and now HK) is an easy option to make money. As a result most bollywood films are a joke and can't be taken seriously. For this reason I'm glad that hollywood or the rest of the world doesn't recognise bollywood. If B'wood wants world recognition they need to get serious and start producing better films.

Even when they make something original (or Indian) and put all their effort into it, doesn't guarantee it's gonna be accepted in the west. In the case of Devdas, it's refusal for an oscar nomination had Mr Bhatt describing the Academy as "those Ba$tard$" and Shahrukh Khan was so upset had called them "idiots". It seems they are all too desperate for acceptence from the west. Mr Bachchan should remember what films Kaante had copied to be a film in itself. They were shocked when the western critics didn't like it, and they wonder why?

Even the films in the US produced by Indians resort to tired old stereotypes (Where's the Party Yaar) or are about stories tied to South Asian culture, so we can't rely on American filmmakers to do any better. On the making of Better Luck Tomorrow the Asian actors complain that they always are playing evil martial arts villains or pizza delivery men, so I don't expect better for Indian characters.

I agree with what you say on the films, Khiladi. They all want international recognition but they aren't willing to put any effort into the films. Indian cinema is great at predictable and disposable entertainment, but occasionally something creative comes out of left field. These days it seems that today Hindi cinema is seen more as a kitschy novelty act rather than anything to be considered seriously.

If more people in Hollywood watch Indian movies, they're going to start suing for royalties, and I hope Mahesh Bhatt is the first victim

i'm not too sure what going on between MB and AB and i would like to see the full text/quote about MB saying what he did.....BUT in his heyday's MB was a good director still is and i think if MB and AB came together for a film its a much better prospect than say getting AB with that so call showman SUBASH GHAI !!!!

and another thing if AB wasn't getting offers left/right and centre in bollywood and was short of cash believe me he would work in hollywood in any role !!!

Mr. Bachchan is right that he refuses to accept stereotypical or
minor roles in Hollywood films, if
he gets such offers. He's wrong if
he thinks that this is all Indian
actors will ever be offered. Hollywood responds to marketable
talent and does not care much about
your skin color. You deliver the
goods, you are hired. You need also
luck to make it among all the talented ones from all over the world going there. But if you don't even try hard and prefer instead
to pout/sulk at home were you are king Hollywood won't come running after you.
Aishwary has a more healthy approach here (see latest rediff interview). I hope she succeeds
and many more come after her with
or without Mr. Bachchan's blessing.

Could anyone tell me about any indian actor making big in hollywood, or atleast hollywood considers him with respect (Except Shekar kapoor who is good only in UK). Even one of the great actors like Naseeruddin shah was reduced to mere buffoon character (in that Raja Maharaja dress). Has someone seen Van-wilder and the way the desi is projected? or in the same breath what about The Guru, East meets west (or something like that), and so on. Even in james bond and indiana jones movies,we were projected like beggar's and nothing more.
Now someone dont tell me that there is no good artist in india as good as a normal Hollywood hero.

Enjoy, I have unfortunately seen that waste of celluloid Van Wilder. Can't really blame Kal Penn, since he's probably taking whatever role he can get. Even our own Indian filmmakers in the West don't do any better portraying Indians IMO.

There are none, but
- it was the same for blacks and
latinos and Chinese. And now
some of these are on the A list
or at least B list.
- no Indian which had what it takes
really tried hard in the past.
The Bachchan attitude forbids
them to try hard (let them come
to me with good roles, I won't
move a finger to get them).
When Hollywood thinks they can
market him/her they will. They
have accepted Shyamalan. It does
not matter he is US Indian. If
he had made "Sixth Sense" after
coming directly from Bombay no-
body would have cared.

Shashi Kapoor was not big in Hollywood by even half a measure. He just happened to act in a few Merchant-Ivory productions and that was that, which in any case is more of an independant film making company and not really part of the mainstream studio setup of Hollywood. Without doubt some of the movies he did act in were delightful, but he was never really recognised west of Mumbai!

Also I do agree with what Mhafner has to say wrt being successful in Hollywood not being a function of where one is from. Another example, though not the same scale as Shyamalan is Tarsem Singh. He made a pretty good impression with THE CELL, except one does not really know where he disappeared afterwards. His much touted ADITYA was perhaps shelled after Hrithik Roshan did not sign up. Maybe it is time he revived the project. Apparently a remake of HAMLET, it would have been interesting to see it set in a Jaipur palace setting !

Like I said theres not much Indians are known for in the US apart from the typical. But i'm sure they can better represented in those roles, as doctors, shop-owners, etc. For example they are made to look silly (e.g. Short circuit - Ben) or like thugs (Temple of Doom).

The best known Indian on US TV is probably Apu from the Simpsons. Parminder Nagra in ER is the most recent image of Indians in US (although she's a brit-character) but it looks like she's gonna be used for another favourite 'slamming' of Indians in the west - an inter-racial relationship with her black co-star in ER. It's like they can't show an Indian in a relationship with another Indian, that's too weird for them, so they show inter-racial couples instead! It's as if Indian girls don't date their own men as has been shown by many 'Indians in the west films' (Bend it like Beckham, Missisipi masala, ABCD, Bhaji on the beach, etc). Sooner or later this will become another stereotype.

There were three Indian characters in 'The Royal Tennenbaums', one a doctor, the other a tennis player, the main one being a servant/slave/loyal friend type of guy. Although western audiences like this character it wasn't positive for Indians and even implied they can be 'bought over' if you pay enough.

Kal Penn - was he the one that said" Pre-vert"? I didn't see van wilder, but I remember the silly indian character in the trailer. I don't know any US americans if they still talk with this accent? It looks like another excuse just to make fun of them.

Kumar Pallana (Pagoda in Royal Tenenbaums) was also a safe cracker in Wes Anderson's Bottle Rocket. His son Deepak Pallana was a bookstore owner. IMDB lists him as "Indian Restaurant Owner" from Duplex and Kumar Baba in Bomb the System. Kumar is next going to be in The Terminal by Steven Spielberg.

I don't think Indian stars have really needed Western recognition. The Indian cinegoing population is massive, and they also have the Indian diaspora, which is a lot of people. Not as many people as Hollywood reaches, but a good number.

C'mon dudes Most of these artists are born and brought up in usa and hence they got a chance. I am talking about an indian artist who struggled in usa and made it big. Now dont say that indians in usa are only represented by restaurant owners or with some other menial jobs. If they want they can show us in a much better manner, But they dont want to. I think there are several proffessions with which we can be related like a proffessor, software engineer (The F***in NASA have most of the Desis working), or even a student. Man these guys have really created a bad impression of us in the west.

I agree with you Khiladi.
I don't watch ER but I also knew this twist was coming from a mile away. Since there are no male Indian doctors working in any US hospitals . The ER writers will introduce Nagra's parents as backward and opposing her relationship. The same thing is happening with Asian men and how they are portrayed in Hollywood as oppose to their female counterparts.