Page 38 - The Indian EYE 041224

ENTERTAINMENT EYE APRIL 12, 2024 | The Indian Eye 38

Bollywood to Hollywood:

Dev Patel creates an Indian story

and takes it global

“Would love to do it again”: Dev Patel after directorial debut film ‘Monkey Man’;

Sikandar Kher, who co-stars in the film, praised Patel and shared, “You don’t know

that he’s a first-time director”

OUR BUREAU
Mumbai
ctor Dev Patel, who made his
directorial debut with ‘Mon-
Akey Man’, said that he would
love to do it again, according to The
Hollywood Reporter. Patel wrote,
directed, produced, and stars in the
Universal action thriller. The film’s
plot revolves around a young guy who
embarks on a quest to find the corrupt
leaders responsible for his mother’s
death, ultimately becoming a rescu-
er of the poor and powerless people.
During the Los Angeles pre-
miere of the film, Patel shared how
he was reluctant about directing a
film. He said he became “a reluc-
tant writer and then a sort of reluc-
tant director” on the project after he
pitched it to previous collaborator
Neill Blomkamp to direct and Blom-
kamp told the actor he should helm it
himself because of his attachment to The film is produced by Jordan Peele, who saw it and stepped in to acquire it via his Monkeypaw Productions (which has a deal with Universal)
the material. from Netflix, believing it deserved a theatrical release rather than streaming
“There were some incredible
people that pushed me into this di-
rector’s seat, and once I was there, I much more; I hope he does.” kind of filmmaker,” Patel said, “not film features Dev Patel, Sharlto Co-
didn’t look back,” Patel continued. “He was there almost physically only did he see that sort of evolution pley, Sobhita Dhulipala, Makarand
“It was by any means necessary I was getting your appearance right, from in me as an artist but he understood Deshpande, Ashwini Kalsekar, and
going to birth this dream so I really the physical detail to the emotional the strength of using the genre to others. Notably, Dev Patel not only
love it, and I would love to do it again detail. I would completely give credit talk about more interesting, deeper stars in the film but also makes his
if I was so lucky.” entirely for my performance to Dev, things -- societal issues and using it directorial debut and serves as a pro-
Sikandar Kher, who co-stars in he just got me there,” added actor as a sort of Trojan horse. He came in ducer.
the film, praised Patel and shared, Makarand Deshpande as per The with the might of Universal and kind Expressing his excitement for
“You don’t know that he’s a first-time Hollywood Reporter. of took us from being this thing that the premiere, Sikandar Kher shared,
director.” The film is produced by Jor- was brushed under the carpet to put- “Excited to reunite with the entire
“He lets you be. It’s the commu- dan Peele, who saw it and stepped ting us back on the mantelpiece, so I cast and crew and see the film with
nication, the way he talks to you. If in to acquire it via his Monkeypaw owe him a great deal,” according to everyone together at the premiere.
there’s a note, it doesn’t feel like a Productions (which has a deal with The Hollywood Reporter. It was a long one for us. We got a
note. He lets you fly, lets you spread Universal) from Netflix, believing it Actor Sikandar Kher was at the phenomenal response at SXSW last
your wings, and that’s when the magic deserved a theatrical release rather premiere of his first Hollywood film, month which was pretty iconic in it-
happens when you can get something than streaming. ‘Monkey Man’. The highly antici- self, there’s a sense of excitement for
that might be special, and he gives Pointing to Peele as “someone pated movie premiered at the Grau- the film’s release now”.
you that liberty and that freedom who’s kind of broken out of the man’s Chinese Theatre followed by Following its US premiere,
and he loves you, he loves his actors,” mould of what he did with his amaz- its release in the US on 5 April. ‘Monkey Man’ is slated to release
Kher added. “He’s going to direct so ing comedy show and became this Alongside Sikandar Kher, the soon in India.

www.TheIndianEYE.com