Dev Patel on being an Indian actor in the West and playing desi characters
Bryan Durham (DNA; December 7, 2015)
I visited the sets of Slumdog Millionaire several years ago, at least eight or 10 months before the film premiered. I had already interviewed the youngest Jamal, played by Ayush and spent three hours with the film’s director Danny Boyle. At the time, Dev Patel was a nobody, walking around the sets and somebody from the casting team asked me if I wanted to speak to him, as well. Since his only work of note till then, had been Skins, a show I wasn’t conversant with, I turned it down. Today, everybody knows Dev Patel. Here’s talking to him about his latest film The Man Who Knew Infinity, about his career, his Indianness and more...
Being in touch with his Indian roots
Growing up in London, you feel the need to stunt your heritage, to try and get rid of it in an effort to look cool, you shed the labels that come with it — like being a freshie (or someone who’s fresh off the boat). You kinda rid yourself of any sort of culture. And I came to India, consciously saw it when I came for Slumdog Millionaire. So, all that history and culture got magnified and you can’t get rid of it. It’s like your mother’s cooking, in a way. So, I’m happy in a way to be coming back often to explore more of our culture.
Embracing Indianness
Absolutely, man. The films I’m doing are great. It brings out the British in me and the Indian.
You’re a Gujarati, palyed a Mumbaikar (Slumdog Millionaire), Punjabi (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Tamilian (in The Man Who Knew Infinity). How’s your Gujarati and will we ever see you play a Gujarati on screen?
(Laughs) My Gujarati leaves much to be desired. It’s not the best. I don’t get to flex my Gujarati-speaking muscles, really. My great grandparents and grandparents could. It’s quite broken. I don’t think I could be confident enough to comfortable to do a full-blown feature, but nevertheless, never say never. The right time and the right role, I will be happy to do something in the language.
Your take on Modi visiting the UK. Were you around?
Wasn’t there, unfortunately. I spend most of my time in LA now, so I wasn’t around. He’s doing a great job of travelling and doing that kind of stuff.
You’ve said before that Math scares you. What are the subjects you actually loved in school and college?
Mostly anything that didn’t involve me sitting down for too long. I like drama, of course, anything sports-related. I did like sciences as well, which is quite fun. At least the practicals are... you know, making stuff bubble, blowing stuff up and causing havoc in the restrooms and stuff.
A film you wished you could’ve done
Unfortunately, I wasn’t skilled enough or alive at the time to be able to take part in such a film, but I’m a massive Bruce Lee fan. Any one I wish I had been a part of, even as a background extra, getting kicked in the face by Mr Lee himself, that would have been great. I would have happily got my nose broken by the great legend and never tried to defend that.
Getting starstruck (he’s worked with British acting legends)
The most surprising thing is that they’re all so down-to-earth, such cultured, travelled human beings. It’s kinda weird to me how for younger actors nowadays it’s more of an ego trip. It’s amazing to work with them and absorb as much as you can. You’re always starstruck, but then you get sucked into this great learning experience, too.
Bollywood connection
My favourite actor of all time is probably Shah Rukh. In terms of other performances, I love Irrfan and Nawaz aad I’m lucky to have shared the screen with them. Nawaz is going to be in my upcoming film, Lion. And so, yeah, it’s been great.
Finding balance between doing both films and TV
Acting-wise, it’s amazing what’s happening in America. It’s more what the stories are about. Some of the big stars... have you watched True Detective? They’d got McConaughey and Harrelson on the TV show giving the performances of their career. What it does is, it allows you to explore the character for more than two hours. I don’t mind either medium.
Working with Danny again?
Right now, nothing has come up, that we can put our thumb on, but he’s responsible for my career catalysing and I’ve so much respect for the man. Anytime he needs me, I’m there.
About The Man Who Knew Infinity
I think the film is really about different men being brought together by a passion for mathematics. You’ve got this man Ramanujan who for his whole life fought casteism and prejudice to make it to where he did. You use his mathematics now to figure out complex black holes. It was used in the formulation of the internet. He wouldn’t have been doing much if it weren’t for DH Hardy and the two had a mentor-student father-son relationship. But two very different human beings. I’m really stoked for it to release in India and for a lot of young Indians to go out and watch it and open him up to a whole new generation.
When trying for roles, is being Indian a hindrance
It doesn’t quite matter to me. The mediums are more or less equal. I think TV acts as a better sort of inspiration than films. In terms of medium, they have a varied definition of characters. You know, I think in the West people are thinking on those lines. Point is I get cast for my looks. Not to take away anything from all the great Indian actors, but they’re looking for someone who’s led a Western life but they’re beginning to transcend that...
On having an Indian as well as international face
Exactly. In Chappie, I play Dean Wilson (of indeterminate origins), and then I did a film called Lion, where I play an Indian character who moves to Australia but he’s Indian from his looks, pedigree and accent. All that requires time and effort to do so. I can’t help if they see me in these Indian roles and in the west, they see it as a downgrade. So we have to change that view and culture and make it cool, man!
Another Dev-Freida film?
If the chances are right, then sure.