Images

People around the globe are more interested in knowing what's happening in India: Freida Pinto

People around the globe are more interested in knowing what's happening in India: Freida Pinto

Pinto says that now stories are acting as a bridge between India and the West
05 Dec, 2018

Freida Pinto's latest project Netflix's Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle has brought together Hollywood and Bollywood.

The film features a Hollywood voice-over cast and Bollywood stars dubbing it in Hindi.

In her interview with PTI, she said, "People are more interested in knowing what's happening in India with Sacred Games or what other stories can come from here that can translate to the rest of the world and not just America. Whereas before, Indian movies were just made for India, Indian TV series was just made for India and probably a little bit of Middle East and Morocco but not for the globe."

"What is beautiful that I'm seeing now is that it's not really so much about the bridge with artistes, it's the bridge with stories. I think it's the stories that are now connecting the two worlds," added the Slumdog Millionaire actor.

Pinto was eager to work in the film owing to her childhood memories associated with Mowgli, and called up the film's team for a role.

"I wanted to be a part of this film. It was not the other way round where I got the offer. I kind of called them to make the offer. It had to do with the childhood memory and how connected I felt to the story."

Although by then most of the cast had been selected, Pinto was hopeful to find a spot in the film. "I said, 'Okay, there aren't any more performance capture roles left but I will do anything to be in this movie. I'll do like a one-second role just because I wanted to honour my childhood memories but I had actually something even better than a one second role."

The 34-year-old was offered to play Messua, the tribeswoman who adopts Mowgli after he re-joins the human world. "I kind of feel if I have to describe my character I'm one big giant hug for Mowgli in the movie. A hug that he's never got from anybody, so I get to be that special person in his life who makes him feel like he's loved and cared for and that he can heal."

Talking about the essence of Kipling's story, Pinto says that the story is all about self-discover and belonging.

“Even when Kipling wrote it, it was a social commentary. We watched The Jungle Book (the cartoon animated series in India) and we just took it at as an animated series. But really when you read the book, you realise it is really a narrative on existential questions and it’s really about belonging, identity and acceptance. It’s like a self-discovery of who you are in the process of all of this,” she added.

The film was released in limited theaters on November 29 and will hit Netflix on December 7.

Comments

Vijay B. Dec 06, 2018 05:57am
You have to concede Freida Pinto has the guts to take the initiative, create a space for herself even though there was none designated for her. Hats off to you Freida.
Recommend (0)
Joe Dec 06, 2018 06:55am
Bollywood has stamped it's authority as world class entertainment industry.
Recommend (0)
Putin Dec 06, 2018 09:39am
Ya. I know. The world is interested in India.
Recommend (0)
Swiss Neutral Dec 06, 2018 09:49am
Today world can't ignore India
Recommend (0)