A brit of Bollywood

by ASJAD NAZIR

WELSH BEAUTY BANITA SANDHU ON HER DREAM FILM DEBUT IN OCTOBER

PERHAPS the most remark­able thing about this month's big Bollywood release October isn’t superstar hero Varun Dhawan, acclaimed director Shoojit Sircar or award-winning writer Juhi Chaturvedi, but the fact that British student Banita Sand­hu is the leading lady.

The talented 20-year-old, studying English Literature at Kings College London, makes her debut in the film be­ing billed as a unique story about love.

The rousing response to the trailer is an early indica­tor the young student born and brought up in a small vil­lage in Wales is about to have her life changed forever.

Eastern Eye caught up with soon-to-be superstar Banita to talk about October, work­ing with Varun Dhawan, fu­ture hopes and more...

How did a girl studying in London land up in a high-profile Bollywood film?

(Laughs) I have been asking myself the same ques­tion every day to be honest. Not even a girl study­ing in London, I was born and raised in a small vil­lage in Wales where Bollywood isn’t as pervasive as it is in the rest of the UK. I have wanted to act since I was really young. So it was kind of calculated on my part to move to London when I was 18 to study at university. At the same time, go to castings, so killing two birds with one stone. In my first year at university, I got a casting to do an advert for India I was initially reluctant to take because I didn’t want to be seen as a model.

What made you say yes to that?

When you are a student, it was a pay cheque and an opportunity to travel. It just made sense and the reaction I got from that advert was beyond my be­lief. One of the people who noticed me was Shoojit sir. He called me to do a government advert with him. While shooting for that over the summer, he men­tioned there was this film he was writing with Juhi and showed me the first page of the script. He pret­ty much offered me the lead role because of that.

You are acting opposite a big star and working with an acclaimed director in October. Did you think you were thrown into the deep end?

Some people can see it that way, but I see it as en­tering the industry in very safe hands. Varun is in­credibly protective over me and so is Shoojit sir. They kept me in this bubble away from the indus­try and made sure there was a lot of stuff I wasn’t exposed to, which I am very lucky for. Also I am still a student in London! I had to deal with the cra­ziness in Mumbai and then after a day or two was back in London studying, leading a very normal student life. I feel very protected if anything.

How aware are your fellow students that you are about to debut in a major movie?

I told my friends when I was offered October, but they didn’t think very much of it because they know who Shah Rukh Khan is but no-one else. So they didn’t really care. I have been working in TV since I was 11. So when I was in London I was used to doing job-to-job and visiting different countries. I went to film and they didn’t say anything. But once the trailer got released, I started doing all these cool interviews and had top designers send­ing me clothes, then my friends started to realise this is a big deal.

What are you allowed to tell us about the story of October?

I am sworn to secrecy on the story unfortunately.

What about your character?

My character Shiuli is an incredibly centred, grounded, mature young lady, who is focused and knows what she wants in life. She is not frivolous and never gets caught up in anything superficial or silly. I believe playing her made me a better person because of the amount of meditation I had to do to ground myself. I was offered her at a time of my life where I was ridden with anxiety.

I had my first film coming up, had university problems, was only 19 and all that teenage angst. Shoojit sir told me to calm down and Varun the same. So in order to embody her essence and purity, I feel like I have come out a better person because of it. ­

What was Varun Dhawan like as a co-star?

He is one of the biggest stars, but when you work with him you don’t feel that way. I am saying that in the nicest way because he is so humble and down to earth, not just with me, but all the crew. He would make sure everyone was okay before himself. He is just such a nice guy and the reputa­tion he has is totally deserved. That is who he is. I am very lucky that he is my first co-star.

Can you share any moments from working on the film?

There are quite a few moments from the film I would love to tell you about, but that will give too much away. It was a huge honour working with the team, but one thing I will take away from the first film of my career is the relation­ships I formed with Juhi, Shoojit sir and Varun. We went through such extreme cir­cumstances during filming that we have such a special bond and relationship now. I genuinely think it is one that will last for life. I think that is my fondest memory of filming.

You must be overjoyed with the amazing response that the October trailer has got?

I didn’t expect it to be so popular and neither did Varun. I thought it would get a couple of million views because it is Varun, but I had no idea we would reach 20 million in just a few days. That was just crazy.

October is a story about love, but are you a romantic in real life?

(Laughs) Oh god, am I? I don’t think I am. I am so young. I don’t feel like I am experienced enough to talk about love. I feel like the only love I have ever been able to cherish in my life is the one with my mum. I feel like that is an unconditional love as a mother-child relationship. But other than that, no!

What kind of films do you enjoy watching?

I love socially or politically-driven films. I love House Of Cards and Game Of Thrones. I am actual­ly more of a TV girl. I love Netflix. In terms of films, I love any genre or language as long as the perfor­mance and writing is good. I enjoyed the various nominations in the Best Film cate­gory at the Oscars from various genres. The Shape Of Water and Three Billboards were so different but I loved them both equally.

Which leading man would you love to work with?

I would love to work with someone like Aamir Khan, even if he is only producing. He is an incredible actor and a great producer. I love that his films are content-driven. I think Bollywood is kind of shifting away from every film centering on romance. Even with October, the way that love is presented is completely different and like nothing Bollywood has ever seen before. In terms of the west, we don’t have time for me to name every sin­gle person I would love to work with (Laughs).

What is the masterplan going forward, will it be acting or what you are studying?

It has always been about acting every since I was 11. The university degree was a promise I made to my parents. I told them when I was very young that I wanted to do this. They said we support you 110 per cent but you have to get a degree. That was the only compromise and why I am still doing this degree.

I got the film offer early in my second year. I was ready to quit and make my life doing this, but I made a promise to my parents to get a degree so will respect that. It’s my final year so the only thing I am masterminding or planning after the film re­leases is to get my graduation and degree done.

Are you nervous or pumped up in the lead-up to the release of your Bollywood debut?

I think because I am not in that environment and back home, I don’t feel anything. At the same time, I am excited for people to finally see the film be­cause even in this interview there is a lot I can’t speak about. So I just can’t wait till the film releas­es and I can finally talk about the entire journey we have been on because it is absolute craziness. It’s something that Bollywood has not seen before. So I am really looking forward to it. Right now, there is no nerves, but ask me the day before release and it might be a different story.

Why should we watch October?

For me, there are so many reasons. It’s a very inter­national film. I think all audiences should go and see this film because I genuinely believe it is some­thing Bollywood has never seen before. People will leave probably a little bit shocked and it will leave them thinking. It will stir up conversations that perhaps haven’t been touched upon before in pre­vious Bollywood films.

• October is in cinemas on April 13