The film industry n India is a bit of a mystery to me’
ndia remains a mystery for Christian Slater. And this is something he’d like to solve soon by visiting the ntry, once the Covid-19 re subsides. But having said , the actor believes being usive towards foreign ures is the need of the r — not just in personal but professionally, too. I would like to see tinued diversity [on en]. I want all doors to be n to all cultures, people races. America is a ting pot. Immigrants have tributed so much to our ure,” asserts Slater, when ed about conversations und diversity reflecting on en in Hollywood. he Legend of Billie Jean story of Dr Christopher Duntsch, who was accused of malpractice resulting in the maiming of several patients’ spines. “The situation is very much like Duntsch’s, who I think suffered from delusional thinking where he’s convinced that he’s a brilliant surgeon, and knows what he’s doing. After listening to the podcast, I was very concerned that a doctor like this could slip through the system for so long and do as much damage as he did,” says the actor, who’ll next be seen in Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas.
Talking about the growing inclusiveness in Hollywood in the recent past, the 52-year-old tells us, “We are in the process of opening doors, learning and becoming more aware. It’s a process that takes time, unfortunately... I am a cog in the wheel here.”
Ask him, then, about his friendship with actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and he’s quick to mention that he has great admiration and respect for her as well as for India. “She [Priyanka] is a dear friend, a wonderful person, someone I respect greatly and truly admire. And, I love India. The film industry there is a bit of a mystery to me. But, the films I’ve seen are remarkable. I’ve never been to the country,” he says, wrapping up with a promise: “I’d love to visit soon. I’m sure that if I were able to go, I’d have a wonderful time.” or writer Apurva Asrani, starting a “conversation in society” through his work is of ost importance. Recently, the w written by him, Criminal ice: Behind Closed Doors, bagged Best Asian Drama Series award ontentasia Awards 2021. But the ognition has come at a time when Chhattisgarh High Court ruled the civilised world is moving towards undoing the evils of domestic abuse, and on the other, Indian courts are giving men a free hand to rape their wives. Many women and men are under the misconception that control is equal to love. It’s in fact the opposite. Let’s raise our voice against the awful Chattisgarh verdict,” he says.
“I’m blessed to find collaborators who feel deep empathy towards such stories. My film Shahid (2012) talks editor, took that conversation into an urban space,” he adds.
Asrani shares how women reaching out to him on social media is his greatest reward. “Women of all ages watched the show and sent me messages about their domestic situation,” he says, adding, “One woman begged me to save her from an abusive husband. I was shaken till I connected her to an NGO.”
So, how important is it to create content such as this? “I wept the day
NOTE TO READERS: Some of the coverage that appears on our pages is paid for by the concerned brands. No sponsored