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May 12, 2006

WHITEY GOES TO BOLLYWOOD

Bob Christo, one of many Anglo/foreign actors working in BollywoodWired, of all places, has a story on Anglo/foreign actors working in Bollywood. Sure the pay is $25/day but the mention of a potential $5,000 for a few weeks work raised my eyebrows.

"Westerners will do a lot of things on camera that Indian's just won't do," says Kaneez F. Khan, a Chennai-based producer. "It's easier just to outsource the role to someone who doesn't have anything at stake."

Hey, at least we're good for something.

May 12, 2006 at 11:46 AM in News | Permalink

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There was this one white bollywood actor I used to really like named Tom Alter. He started off as a small character actor in bollywood films in the 70s. What was impressive about this guy was that not only was he a good actor but he had learnt to speak fluent hindi. In the 80s his supporting roles got bigger and bigger, either playing the brit officer in period films or as the white international villain character in bollyaction films - but tom still managed to work with some of the best Indian directors of that era (including Satyajit Ray and Shyam Benegal). unfortunately he was never able to get any substantial lead parts, mainly b/c he was white(I think he was german?)

I wonder what happened to him?

Posted by: victor | May 12, 2006 5:16:10 PM

He was great in Mr. India. The epitome of the foreign influence from outside, kind of like that australian guy in Ong Bak, only he's a much better actor.

He's still acting in bollywood, you may have seen him in the Rising playing a british officer.

Posted by: anangbhai | May 12, 2006 7:41:34 PM

And there's always the great Bob Christo (who's in the photo). As far as snarling, evil foreigners in Asian films go - Christo has to be my favorite.

Posted by: Grady Hendrix | May 12, 2006 11:26:19 PM

Christo had the dubious honor of having his head peed on by Moti the Wonder Dog in Mard. Truly a great villain back in the day.

Was Tom Alter in Mr. India? I remember Christo doing the Cossack dance in it.

There's a terrific site devoted to Bollywood and Bob Christo called Bollybob, though it's infrequently updated nowadays. I recommend reading the Mr. India and Mard reviews if you want some belly laughs.

http://dangermuff.com/bollybob/reviews.html

Posted by: David Austin | May 13, 2006 3:50:39 PM

L’olodisk gli cade dalle dita. Lui barcolla e s’infrange contro il letto a peso morto. Poi apre gli occhi.
“Ma cosa? Questa è roba stranissima. M’è arrivata in testa una specie di neurogramma insieme ad un freddo gelido.”
Si tira su, tenendosi la testa tra le mani.
“Che!? Un neurogramma? Freddo gelido? E chi ti manda certa roba? E perché a me non ha scaricato niente?”
Un misto di invidia e gelosia si dipinge sui disegni tribali del volto di Bruno.
“Che ne so, forse non è un olodisk normale. Prendi un pò, riprovaci.”
Si passano il supporto. Pollici appiccicati sul display ma...
“Niente Fel, funziona solo con te, deve essere personale.”
La faccia di Bruno esprime un che di desolazione.
“Già, sarà... Ma che significa? E’ un brutto scherzo o cosa? Non sarai stato tu o qualche altro sballato dello Stardust, vero?”
“Io?!? Senti bello, io non so neanche come si scrive un neurogramma. Il Neuronauta, caso mai, sei tu. Forse è l’olodisk di una casa disk-o-grafica sconosciuta. Per me è uno scambio d’identità o un errore di destinatario, un qualche codice criptato andato a male. Per caso è arrivato a te e per caso si scarica sulla tua memoria. Possibile no?”
E’ sempre meglio che ammettere che sia arrivato a Felix e non a lui.
“Ma ti senti? Per caso, per sbaglio. Queste cose non succedono, lo sai. Comunque non mi frega. Se è qualcosa d’importante, si rifaranno vivi. Chiunque lo abbia mandato.”
giancarlo di michele

Posted by: giancarlo di michele | May 14, 2006 7:48:19 AM


that's the guy from dhavani kanavugal!

Posted by: jevya | May 15, 2006 8:44:17 AM

But who's going to do a story on PLEASE TEACH ME ENGLISH's Angela Kelly?

Posted by: Jessica | May 16, 2006 1:45:37 PM

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