Desi to boot

The actor is all set to play protagonist in a mainstream Christmas movie

Arich Indian kid living in New York grows up watching Amitabh Bachchan and decides to become a Bollywood hero, leaving his family and family business behind. A decade and a handful of roles later, he finally gets to play the hero – in a Hollywood movie!

Prashantt Guptha who last played a young politician in The Tashkent Files

(2019) is now the male lead in Daniel Tenenbaum’s upcoming flick, A New Christmas.

He’s also the cocreator of the $500,000 film, so his journey in Hollywood is somewhat different. “Creating an opportunity for yourself as an actor and producer, and successfully selling it is a much harder feat than simply landing a break,” he says.

But Hollywood never featured in his dreams. Remembering his first years in Bollywood Prashantt says: “I landed in Mumbai in 2007 and had a return ticket for two months later. I thought it was enough time to conquer Bollywood!” “My first audition was for a Nagesh Kukunoor film. It was the worst of my life. I placed too much importance on it, thinking if I got the part it would make my career instantly. Had I cared a little less I’d have delivered my lines smoothly.”

With content-driven entertainment growing in India and a focus on inclusivity in Hollywood, actors like Prashantt could succeed anywhere. “If I had to choose, it would be India. I invested my most precious years here and deserve a phenomenal ROI.

After that, I’d head to Hollywood. Why? Better infrastructure, cleaner air and a greater civic sense!”