Indian actors tend to get stereotyped in projects overseas, feels Samir Soni

Sangeeta Yadav

Samir Soni’s stints on the big and small screens have gained him quite a fan following over the years and in 2020, the versatile actor aims to make the big leap overseas.

“I was approached for an American TV series which didn’t materialise. But, talks are on and I’d love to explore interesting work that comes my way,” Samir continues, “India is a big market for international directors and producers, as foreign films do great business here. And to get a hold on the Indian audiences, foreign makers are casting Indian actors and introducing an Indian connect in their stories. We’re becoming a part of their mainstream entertainment,” says the 51year-old.

With Indian actors such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Tabu, Irrfan, Anupam Kher, Ali Fazal, and Adil Hussain, to name a few, making it big in the international scene, Samir feels that there’s a definite demand for Indian actors in the West. “There are bigger roles for Indian actors and I’d love to emulate what Priyanka did in Quantico or Anupam Kher is doing in New Amsterdam,” adds the actor, who was last seen in Student of the Year 2 (2019).

However, Samir is quick to point out that Indian actors do tend to face stereotyping overseas. “Either they’d show an Indian character with a funny accent or a cosmopolitan Indian who looks brown in colour to make it look closer to their culture. That’s unfortunate. There’s still a long way to go. We’ve given many Indian international stars and we still need one big thing to take us through which I’m sure is going to happen soon,” he says.

With more and more Indian actors experimenting overseas and international faces simultaneously making it big in Bollywood, Samir feels that “the world is becoming a giant melting pot” with a crosstalent exchange. “We’re the demand for them, they’re the demand for us. In Bollywood also, 10 years back, we wouldn’t have thought of foreign actors such as Katrina (Kaif), Jacqueline Fernandez, Nora (Fatehi) making it big in the industry. Besides, there are many European girls making their career in Bollywood as background dancers. Indian cinema is also coming of age and there is diversity in everything,” he adds.

Samir Soni