AFP/File Photo: British actor Toby Stephens(L), seen here with Indian actor Aamir Khan during the filming of "The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey"
In the eyes of many foreigners, Bollywood is taking on a respectibility that started to escalate several years ago.
While there have been a number of foreigners playing in Bollywood films for years, they have always been in minor roles. But when Brithis actor Toby Stephens starred in the 2005 film "The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey", referencing the 1857 Indian rebellion against the British, it launched an explosion of actors from other countries searching out Bollwood for opportunities to start their careers.
One of the variables that have helped fuel this explosion is that film-makers are beginning to explore a number of issues that take things beyond what the usual Bollywood fare was: the basic song-and-dance films of the past. The result is that there are an increasing number of roles for foreign actors.
"Bollywood is a very family-oriented business compared to Hollywood that is run by big studios. But once you make a mark it is easy to move on," says Australian actress, Zaetta.
The opportunities for foreign actors looks very bright in India as they increase the types of themes they explore in film and with the colonial past they've had, it has provided many with the ability to speak English and is used in much of the booming industry. As a result of wanting to expand the growth of the industry, there are also an increasing number of movies that are filmed completely in English.
Stephens, who was the bad guy in the 2002 James Bond movie "Die Another Day", got rave reviews for his role as an army officer that is said to have diminished the superstar Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, who had the lead role in the film.
One little known fact concerning the movie industry in this part of the world, is that it is the most prolific movie-making industry in the world. Many are starting to use that to advance their careers.
Comment Preview