WE ARE THE WORLD

“If I were invited to the Bollywood world, I would have to do that in the strictest and most respectful ways possible, but it’s something I would be super-excited about” —Ryan Reynolds

Ryan’s got a smile when talking about joy, but I’m not about to let go of asking him about our movies just yet. “What you’re referring to as joy, some would call escapism. In a developing country, cinema needs to be as escapist as it is entertaining… Ever thought of it this way?

“Yes, absolutely,” Ryan replies. “You want some of that escapism. You want that ability to disappear for a second and go somewhere else. I think that’s very, very important. Movies do it in a conscious way. I do believe that it’s [escapist cinema] a good way to get out of your own head for a second.”

Any Indian movie that you remember? Any Indian actor?

Ryan sounds almost apologetic. “I don’t want to embarrass myself and get something wrong,” he says. “Every Bollywood film I’ve been lucky enough to have seen, and I’ve seen about a dozen or so, has always brought with it explosive joy. I wish we could have more of that in our culture here.”

Do you think you’d be a good enough dancer or singer, and do you see yourself doing a Bollywood movie some day?

“Oh my gosh!” Ryan exclaims. “If I were invited to the Bollywood world, I would have to do that in the strictest and most respectful ways possible, but it’s something I would be super-excited about. But I also think Bollywood’s doing just fine on its own… it doesn’t need me to be jumping in there,” he laughs. “I’m happy to let the professionals do it [the singing and dancing.]”

Just like Bollywood, aren’t there now beginning to emerge characteristics of storytelling from different parts of the world? Korean is intense and surprising, Iranian can be real life-like, South