Bollywood Hollywood Director: Deepa Mehta Country: Canada Year: 2002

Bollywood Hollywood, a musical romantic comedy directed by Deepa Mehta is sure to blow the viewers away with its brilliant galaxy of stars, both veteran and amateur and the characters coming alive guided by the prowess of these talented actors. Canadian viewers will find it simply adorable because of its distinct Canadian atmosphere (the movie has been shot in Toronto.) Coming from Deepa Mehta, the movie strikes almost offbeat. The gifted maker of serious movies such as Fire, Earth, and Water seems to aim to entertain more than anything else in her latest Hollywood/Bollywood.

I had a chance to meet with the cast of Bollywood/Hollywood, featured in 2002 Toronto Film Festival this past September. The real people were as delightful.and unique as the characters themselves. All of them had highly individual views about the movie, but one thing stood out as a common denominator - they all had a blast with Bollywood/Hollywood and hope that so will the audience.

Rahul Khanna came across as a warm and humble person with his signature million-dollar-smile. Rishma Malik was articulate, confident and looked luminous and very natural in her casual attire. Jazz Mann - actor, comedian, producer, writer, was brimming over with energy and infectious charm. Lisa Ray, unfortunately had to leave in order to attend to some important business which left me momentarily heartbroken… SOB…SOB…Well, Lisa, maybe next time then!

Here is what transpired during the interviews:

N.A. Deepa Mehta is renowned for making movies that carry a strong and serious message and usually deals with important social and cultural issues. Do you think Bollywood/Hollywood addresses yet another pressing social subject? According to you, what is the real essence of the movie?

R.K. I'd like to simply say these words - Have fun with the movie! Do not dig too deep for meaning. In my view, the movie intends to entertain the viewer and its essence lies in pulling off this fun side.

R.M. The movie is so Bollywood on one hand and so Un-Bollywood on the other. It depicts the beauty, fun, humour and passion of Bollywood in an open and accepting way, It also fuses elements of Hollywood in it so wonderfully. It is an altogether new genre. I think different people will view it differently.

J.M. What I love about this movie is that it's so Indian and yet, it is really not. I think it is just such a wonderful piece of controversy - is it Bollywood or Hollywood? I'd say, do not try to categorize it.

N.A. I bet you are asked this all the time, but how was it working with the one and only Deepa Mehta?

R.K. Quite simply, it was once again a dream come true. (Rahul has previously acted in Deepa's critically acclaimed Earth) As a director, Deepa Mehta is just such a great medium. Working with such a wonderful and truly unique filmmaker like Deepa, the actor's job just becomes so much easier and so much more fun.

R.M. Deepa has this wonderful knack of bringing energy and camaraderie to the cast. She has an ability to bring the best people on board and bring the best out of them.

J.M. I had met Deepa at a benefit and she had also seen me in performance. And then, Bollywood Hollywood rolled around. Deepa Mehta called me to offer this role and tell me exactly why I was chosen for this role. I felt excited beyond words can describe - almost stunned. What blew me away was not only does she write and direct her films with such extraordinary talent, here's someone who knows her potential cast so thoroughly that she actually tells them clearly why they got their role. That to me said, "Wow! This is the woman that I want to get to know for the rest of my life."

N.A. The business of movies has been known to be extremely stressful. You are juggling schedules and have to deal with the enormous demand of giving the best of yourself to your role at all times. How do you cope with all of it?

R.K. My philosophy is to go with the flow. Yes, the profession is stressful but I am here because I love it. And because I love it, sometimes I do not mind the extra pressure, because I know it will only make my work so much better. (Adds with a chuckle) However, there are times when you simply have to release stress, come what may, to be able to function.

R.M. I think working in movies is a package deal. It does bring stress along with the sense of fulfillment. There are constant calls for make up change, there's everyone wanting a piece of you and so on and so forth. But it was rejuvenating to be able to connect with the cast, to be able to form bonds, just by virtue of having worked together and united in one purpose. We had a wonderful energy and felt great in each other 's company on the set as well as off it and that was very relaxing.

J.M. It's been busy. Recently, I also launched a production company along with two partners. I am enjoying learning the industry in the role of a producer, actor and would one day like to direct. I see myself at a monumental moment right now and I have my eyes set on being an Indian actor in a North American society and mainstream cinema. I think now's the perfect time as Hollywood is now focusing more than ever before on the ethnic diversity, not just the black and white. I am all set to take on the challenge ahead.

N.A. Growing up, did you always know you would end up doing movies? What were some of the informative influences?

R.K. Growing up, I always wanted to be in the entertainment industry, but I wasn't sure that I'd necessarily do movies. My major break was being a host on MTV Asia in Singapore. Currently, I am involved in other movies and spend most of my time managing projects back and forth between New York and India. I am very passionate about the industry and hope to continue doing meaningful and exciting roles.

R.M. I always knew I would be in movies and when I say movies, I am talking about being in Hollywood one day and that's what I aspire and work for. I was always an extrovert Indian kid. Music was one of the biggest formative stimuli in my life. I had an older 14-year-old elder brother who was crazy about music and that was a major influence. Later, I also took Jazz music classes. I grew up loving Saturday Night Fever, Bee Gees, Grease.

N.A. What do you personally think about the potential of success of Bollywood/Hollywood with Canadian audiences?

R.K. It is a very watchable movie and very entertaining. I am hoping that the audiences would love the music as all of us did. I think that it will appeal to the Indo Canadian viewers very much as it features the common family issues that they themselves face growing up. In fact, the children of immigrants to any country can relate to it. It does not matter if your parents had settled in Canada, America or the U.K. As immigrants coming from an altogether different cultural background, it is the same struggle you have to go through sometime or the other in your lives.

R.M.The audiences would very much relate to the characters in the movie. Talking about my character, Twinkie, I can say it clearly depicts a lot of immigrants' kids that grew up in this environment. She has one foot in the culture and the other out. I think the movie has a solid potential for success. The film is giving something very new to the world of cinema. It talks about acceptance and fusion of cultures. It has dance sequences choreographed Hollwood style. I say, go into this movie without any intention of categorizing it. It is a genre unto itself.

J.M. I think Canadian audiences will totally relate to this movie. A great thing about it is that it takes place in Toronto. It is so not unbelievable that an Indo-Canadian dot com billionaire falls in love with a Caucasian girl and the family forces him to marry an Indian instead. All the wedding scenes and festivities lend a strong cultural element to it. And yet, the movie deviates from convention in that the characters learn to accept and move on.

N.A. Did you have fun working in the movie?

R.K. The entire crew and the cast were great and shooting in Toronto was a whole lot of fun. I had a blast. The only challenge was tackling the dance sequences, but with a wonderful choreographer, even that was eventually made easier and maybe even enjoyable (says with a smile).

R.M. I love the character of Twinkie that I play. She is a distinctly independent individual and is very much like the real me. I had a lot of fun doing dance sequences. Being a strongly musically inclined person, I just come alive when I dance. And of course, working with Deepa Mehta was a treat in itself. Working with an experienced actress like Moushumi Chatterji, I could almost palpably feel her powerful presence on the set at all times. The entire crew was great. There was a sense of bonding with them and we shared a great energy.

J.M. I got to work with a cast that was unbelievable. It was simply mind-blowing working with such recognized names in the industry such as Rahul Khanna, Akshaye Khanna, Lisa Ray, Moushumi Chatterji. Wow! And Deena Pathak - I think that woman stole the movie, she was just incredible. It was just amazing to see what these great actors were capable of bringing to the table through their roles.

N.A. What are your favourite movies/ actors?

R.K. Favourite movie - Amar, Akbar, Anthony

R.M. Favourite Hollywood actors: Leonardo DiCaprio (but believes he still ahs to deliver his masterpiece performance), Holly Hunter, Tim Robins, Brad Pitt, Kate Blanchett
Favourite Bollywood actors: Manisha Koirala, Rekha and (of course) Amitabh Bachan.
I would say these actors are more than just my favourites. I respect and admire them.

N.A. Any words of advice for young, aspiring actors?

R.K. I would say, if you are passionate about the profession and if you think you have potential, go out there and give it your best shot. However, be realistic in your ambitions.

R.M. Anyone interested from deep inside should make sure they set their ego aside and make sure they feel the desire from deep within. You have to strive to be good people. Humility is key. I believe that if the ego is running high, you are bound to fall hard. Experienced people in this business can really spot who the good people are, who they want to work with and who not.

J.M. Stick to your guns! Believe in and love what you do. If you believe hard enough, nothing can stop you. Hollywood is not ignorant. You don't need to fly out there and bang at everyone's door. They are watching you. Basically, do what you have to, to get what you want.