INDIA’S LATEST EXPORT TO HOLLYWOOD

Actor Priyanshu Painyuli from Bengaluru, who bagged a role in Chris Hemsworth-starrer Extraction, writes a piece on how to be a Hollywood villain

Growing up in Bengaluru, I dreamed of going to Mumbai someday and becoming an actor recognised for his craft This was more than a dream, however It was a path I was clear about, and my hard work got me roles in some really good films

But I am quite new to the camera And when, this early in my career, I was told I had been cast in a Russo Brothers’ film, I had to cross-check several times that it was for real

The Russo Brothers are the makers of The Avengers: Infinity

War Obviously I had no idea how to react because I am a big fan of Marvel films and when I watched Thor fight with Thanos, it wasn’t as though I was thinking, “Hey! My next film I’m going to be the bad guy opposite Thor!”

When I was finally convinced that Joe Russo and Sam Hargrave had actually liked my audition, I was on top of the world But the very next second I realised something: this was a 100 per cent professional Hollywood film I would have to up my game as an actor and give it 110 per cent

ON THE SET

From day one, everything had been planned and explained to everyone They make you very comfortable and ask what would help you perform better Sam is a cool and calm director, and in our first chat about my character, he clearly explained how I should approach the role of Amir Asif Unfortunately, there was a slight issue: I don’t speak Bangal [the Bengali spoken in Bangladesh], and all my dialogues were in the local Dhaka dialect But Sam was confident that I would take care of the language easily, and that gave me a big boost of confidence

So the prep was great: clear approach and lots of language training But the real gangster attitude for my character came from the costumes of heavy gold jewellery and shiny, pointed shoes, which I would never wear in real life!

GO FLY A KITE

My first day of shooting was in Ahmedabad We were on the rooftop of a small three-floor building surrounded by buildings of similar height On other rooftops, kids were flying kites and aunties were sitting together andchattingiwasfocusedonmy dialogues and as I was rehearsing, a kite went past me I tried to draw their attention and indicate that they shouldstopflyingtheirkitestillmy shot was done But I was completely ignored In fact all day the rooftops were filled with kids playing and aunties chatting, and I thought they were mad, hanging around on their terraces in the crazy heat

Only at the end of the day was I told that all those people were junior artists, placed there to convey a feel of a crowded city like Dhaka They were just doing their jobs You only realise what a large scale production entails when you experience one

CHRIS WHERE?

Sadly, I don’t share screen space with Chris Hemsworth in the film, though I never stopped telling the team – in good humour – that since my character was the one stopping him, I should be pointing my big gold gun at him in at least one scene He should have to deal with the real villain, not just the villain’s army!

But I did meet Chris in the hair van where I was getting my hair fixed for my scene and he needed his bread trimmed He walked in, took his seat, and began chatting with me immediately, about the city, about India and about the music he was listening to In between, he sang out loud in his heavy voice He sings well

Then I had to head back, so I said, “Nice meeting you, see you on the set,” and he said, “Yeah, sure” Wefistbumpedandthenrealised we didn’t have any scenes together so we just wished each other luck for our respective shoots

WHEN I WAS TOLD I HAD BEEN CAST IN A RUSSO BROTHERS’ FILM, I HAD TO CROSS-CHECK SEVERAL TIMES THAT IT

WAS FOR REAL!

I had thought I would be starstruck by him given the fact that I am a huge Avengers fan

But he was so humble and relaxed that I didn’t even feel that I was meeting a global superstar

AIMING HIGH

I learned so much from the cast and crew of this film I learned about myself as an actor too I could tell you it was amazing, wonderful

But actually, it was an experience I just can’t explain It was my first Hollywood film Not many actors get such an opportunity

But I am aiming for the opportunity again I am about to audition for Irishman 2 for Netflix

“I don’t share screen space with Chris Hemsworth I kept telling the team since my character’s the one stopping him, I should be pointing the gun at him!”

GANGSTER VIBE Priyanshu on the sets of Extraction where her plays Amir Asif, a gangster