CORRI TO CURRY
A VISIT to a slum in India was an eye-opener that Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas says helped him make sense of life.
He believes it showed him how fame and fortune and TV success were not the only routes to happiness.
Ryan and his younger brothers, twins Adam and Scott, headed to the city of Mumbai – population 18.4 million – to explore their grandfather’s heritage for a six-part ITV documentary.
Giving us an exclusive insight into their month-long adventure and the treasured snaps they brought back, the lads admit it was a wake-up call.
One visit that moved them was to the Dharavi slum, the most populated place on earth, where 700,000 people live in just 0.8 square miles.
Ryan, 35 – known for his love of expensive cars and holidays, recalled: “It took us all aback. That slum was just full of fun and laughter, smiles on all their faces.
“It was a real eye opener. We don’t need all the materialistic things we think we do.”
Adam, 31, a former Emmerdale actor, added: “It was unreal. A week before we were all home in Manchester, in our houses.
Dancing
“Cut to us in the middle of one of the biggest slums in the world with all these kids, and we’re dancing around with them to Bollywood music.
“It was unbelievable to see how happy they are. They have nothing, yet they have everything, in a weird way.”
Dharavi is where Oscarwinner Slumdog Millionaire was filmed, and Scott thinks the locals believed they were shooting a new film.
The Love Island lothario tells us: “I think they thought we were Hollywood superstars. We were swarmed by people interested to see what we were filming. It was pure chaos but they were so lovely and really respectful.
“It was so humbling. It’s changed us all – and it’s something we don’t want to lose sight of now we’re home.
“We’re always chasing the next best thing, but what’s it all about? You’ve got people over there who have nothing but are so content. It put things into perspective. I think I’d lost sight of that.”
The brothers’ grandfather, Nolan Thomas, emigrated from Mumbai to Manchester in 1947. So, joined by dad Dougie, 68 – a music promoter and lead singer of 70s band Dougie James and the Soul Train – the lads set off to explore their Indian roots. Giving what they call “an idiots’ guide to India” they admit arriving in Mumbai was a “massive culture shock”.
Scott recalled: “As soon as you step off the plane… it’s the sights, the smells, everything. The thing that really shocked us is that everyone is in such a rush.
“Adam was like, ‘Where is everyone going?’ It was just madness.” Ryan added: “It felt like an episode of Wacky Races. It’s every man for himself on their roads. There are no road markings, everyone is just ducking and diving.” After magnificent sights such as the Gateway of India monument and the sprawling Chhatrapati Shivaji train terminus, it was the bustling market near the iconic Gol Deval Temple that grabbed their interest.
Adam laughed as he said: “The street food out there is a lot different to back in Manchester!”
No stranger to eating weird things thanks to his 2016 I’m A Celebrity stint, he persuaded his brothers to try a local dish called fire paan, a mix of nuts, dry fruits and sugar, wrapped in a But he was unaware the bite is set alight just before you e
Ryan’s verdict? “That was disgusting, probably the wo ever tasted. My mouth was o breathing flames.”
But Adam said: “I thou absolutely amazing. I didn’t k going to be on fire but the cl name. It blows your head off
Scott’s next ordeal by fire c he was talked into having a ha style – when the hair is set al
He said: “I thought that but my hair was literally set o could smell the burning. My with a fire extinguisher. You
They have nothing, yet they have everything, in a weird way