And why couldnt we get some good Pakistani talent in this? - The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2013) Discussion

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

You mentioned a few names, can you give me a more comprehensive list of who you consider to be good Pakistani actors both in Pakistan and in UK, America and Canada. You've got Ali Zafar working in Bollywood and Riz Ahmed (in this movie), they are the two most likely for stardom, at the moment. Shoaib Mansoor does a good job under the circumstances, but could never make this kind of movie out of Pakistan.

reply

[–] cyborgdemon-1 12 years ago

Have you ever seen Khuda Key Liye?? That was made by Shoaib Mansoor, and half of that movie was shot on location in U.S.A., and it was a terrific movie.

And do we have to have U.S/Canadian/British based Pakistani actors? Why can't we get some talent from Pakistan itself just like Om Puri and Shabana Azmi who are based directly out of India and not any other countries. There is Bushra Ansari, Mona Lisa, Adnan Siddiqui, Javed Shaikh, Shan and Fawad Khan and Iman Ali (the 3 who were in Khuda Key Liye) and etc...

You think Riz Ahmed is famous in Hollywood or even Bollywood for that matter? Well as of right now, no. And that's the point, they already have a Hollywood star studded cast that includes Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland and Liev Schreiber.

I just feel every time there is a role of a Pakistani character, more often than not it ends up being played by some one from Bollywood. Which is great because Bollywood does have some of the finest actors on earth, don't get me wrong. But it just saddens me that there is good Pakistani talent that could also be used for these roles.

reply

[–] vhavnal 12 years ago

I just feel every time there is a role of a Pakistani character, more often than not it ends up being played by some one from Bollywood. Which is great because Bollywood does have some of the finest actors on earth, don't get me wrong. But it just saddens me that there is good Pakistani talent that could also be used for these roles.

well one major problem is visa, sometimes thees actors have to travel to USA to shoot and if they are from pakistan, will they will have a harder time getting in and if one of the main leads is denied visa, it may halt the shooting..Om puri is an international actor, he has acted a lot in hollywood movies as well as British cinemas, if he wasn't available, Mira may have chosen Anupam kher or Naseerudin Shah, both with a good Hollywood record..its easier for international stars to get visa cause they have agents based in USA and england, most pakistani if not all those actors you named above have no international agents and probably also have no intentions of working in "hollywood"..actress Meesha was selected cause she is an international based actress living most of her time in US..

Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity

reply

[–] [email protected] 12 years ago

I don't disagree or have anything to add to anything you said. But I can't help commenting on your sig. Brings back memories. First time I heard that was from a pretty girl named Frankie in 1970, at the funeral of the brother of a mutual friend who had come back in a bag. Only she phrased it "Fighting for peace is like *beep*ing for chastity." (replace the *beep* with the f-word).

reply

[–] entertainme5 12 years ago

I know what you mean! Would have been great to see a Pakistani leading actor but riz Ahmed looks promising.. I'm giving this film chance..until I see a trailer or something and changes my mind about it.

reply

[–] cyborgdemon-1 12 years ago

Well actually now a days many Pakistani television serials are being shot on location in the U.S which means the cast and crew definitely have visa's to be allowed to be shooting there. I've seen a few recent serials shot in NYC as well as D.C. By the way, Shoaib Mansoor's Khuda Ke Liye was also shot on location - Chicago and Shan and other actors and the crew were there.

So simply putting a visa issue as a preference for choosing a Bollywood actor to play a Pakistani role, is inexcusable and I'm pretty sure that's not entirely the reason why they chose exceptional actors such as Om Puri and Shabana Azmi over other equally impressive Pakistani talent.

Look my point was that they should have given a chance for these roles to be played by real Pakistani talent. When there is talent available, and you can't deny that there is, then give it a chance. I think Om Puri and Shabana Azmi are amazing, I'm not denying that at all, but like I said before it just saddens me that whenever there is a Pakistani character it ends up being played by Bollywood stars.

I just want to see some Pakistani talent on the big screen. I believe they deserve a shot.

reply

[–] slither911 12 years ago

What is wrong in choosing an Indian actor to play a pakistani???? Please elaborate ....

reply

[–] bratty_emo 12 years ago

Riz Ahmed is Pakistani not Indian

reply

[–] cyborgdemon-1 11 years ago

What is wrong in choosing an Indian actor to play a pakistani???? Please elaborate ....

What is wrong in choosing a Pakistani actor to play a Pakistani character, when the talent is available? Please elaborate that for me.

Thanks.

reply

[–] gibbonici 11 years ago

Isn't Om Puri Indian, not Pakistani?

reply

[–] bratty_emo 12 years ago

...Riz Ahmed is a Pakistani. Born in Britain.
So how can you say there isn't Pakistani talent?

reply

[–] cyborgdemon-1 11 years ago

If you've read my 1st post you'd know what I was talking about. Riz Ahmed is a British Pakistani, yes I know that. But what about every body else in the movie?

Om Puri and Shabana Azmi who play the role of Changez's parents are not Pakistani, they are acclaimed (and rightly so I might add) Bollywood stars. There's nothing wrong with that, its just that there are plenty of Pakistani actors who could've played that part as well. Whenever there is a Pakistani role to play in a Hollywood movie (not that many to begin with) they end up being played by Indian actors- MOST OF THE TIME.

For once I'd like to see that good Pakistani talent up on screen, instead of outsourcing it to Bollywood.

By the way Riz Ahmed was NOT Mira Nair's 1st choice. It was Ranbhir Kapoor another Bollywood actor. It just so happens Ranbhir gave up on that role and so it went to Riz.

Look I've said this before and I'll say it again I got nothing against Indian actors, they are amazing no doubt, BUT for once just once could we pleaaaaase get Pakistani actors to play Pakistani roles. Its not like they cast Pakistani actors in Indian roles now do they? There are soo limited good Pakistani roles to begin with do we really have to outsource them too?

reply

[–] dogzrgood 11 years ago

I agree, there must be some representation from Pakistan. The original writer should have stressed upon this too.
JK Rowling said there will be no American actor in the HP movies and none were there!!

reply

[–] manizia 11 years ago

After what they did with Mohsin Hamid's first novel... made for TV movie 'Daira', I think this time he must have requested NOT to use any Pakistani actors and/or production team.
India has better quality actors and they are available so why not use them. It's all about doing justice to the characters - making them believable. Pakistani actors just don't cut it. Shoaib Mansoor is overrated. Did 2 Films in 10 years and the last one was trying too hard to be a sob fest and the acting was over the top, horrid. In R.Fundamental, Riz Ahmed was the lead and he's Pakistani and from what I have read, has done a great job.

reply

[–] eatmorecoffee 8 years ago

I am sure there are good Pakistani actors who have been overlooked, but go back 70 years or so and Pakistan didn't exist. Pakistanis and Indians were more or less the same people, weren't they? Or at least Punjabis, Pashtuns, etc. I had a Pakistani friend who also described himself as a Punjabi, and said his culture was essentially north Indian. (Yet he hated India. And America. Was prepared to die for Pakistan, but refused to live there.) Wouldn't there be Bollywood actors who are Punjabis and could play a character from Lahore? Om Puri has played Pakistanis before too.

reply

[–] zain_hasan40 11 years ago

I agree with your point of view. I think it all boils down to intention. Any excuse will simply be an excuse. I can name at least 3 Pakistani actors for each of the roles...and I am not too informed on Pakistani showbiz. There are plenty of good actors in Pakistani drama and theatre industry (although I admit the latter is not an industry). And trust me (as a Bollywood fan), I can safely say that some of the Pakistani actors (especially among females) are lot better than the mainstream Bollywood actors.

reply

[–] zain_hasan40 11 years ago

Btw I just stumbled across the video where Nair talks about visa issues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=uA05dRNAJDs&feature=fvwp

She talks after 16:20

I know for a fact that Pakistanis have visa problems. She mentions that the Pakistani Qawalli group had to walk across the border cuz of visa problems. Its a very well-known group btw. And even Riz Ahmed, as a British citizen was denied a US visa...how disappointing.

I would like to empathize now...its a really sad state of affairs unfortunately...and somewhat hypocritical on the part of governments, who at one point claim to fight terrorism and fundamentalism, but then are afraid to encourage moderates and arts in general.

reply

[–] immortally69 11 years ago

You cannot blame the U.S government for being paranoid about this situation. Many Indians (I'm one) are inconvenienced due to visa issues as well, but I can totally understand their position regarding internal security.

On to the question of movie, yes it would have been great to have Pakistanis playing their part firsthand. But it's a movie and there are several logistics involved in making one. Profit, losses, convenience, availability, popularity to name a few. By OP's logic, one could argue that all scripts/books by Pakistani authors should be directed and produced only by Pakistnis too. Will that jive?

Au contraire, having few well known foreigners play non-pivotal roles only adds to a movies appeal and reach to more audience (Indians in this case). Think from that perspective.

reply

[–] zain_hasan40 11 years ago

I think I can blame them (and all the governments actually at some level).

When Riz Ahmed (a well-known artist) can be denied a visa entry (on a British passport), or Shahrukh Khan can be detained at the airport, it just speaks volume of the paranoia of TSA (or Homeland Security).

reply

[–] Sodominion 11 years ago

An acquaintance of mine, well my boss's friend, was suppose to audition for the role but he didn't get the visa in time. He's actually a really good actor and could have pulled the role off a lot better....the drama serials and tv movies he has worked on are below average but as animators we often get him to act for us and he's quite amazing. Riz Ahmed is a far cry from being a middle class pakistani. He couldn't pull it off if his life dependent on it. I'm sorry but choosing an brit or even an indian actor to play a middle class paklistani guy is just absurd. We can easily spot the difference from a mile away. It's those subtle things that makes the difference. But then again hollywood has always been quite unsuccessful with that. I wonder if they do it on purpose.

The visa process sucks a.ss. And with all the security and strictness they treat the people like prisoners. I would be more than happy if some terrorist blows their embassy to kingdom come. Hell we have so many blasts already it would bring a smile to my face. Bunch of fuqing empty suits probably scared of their own shadow.

reply

[–] rajiv_kuin 11 years ago

After reading all the comments, let me make it easy for you... Learn to say thanks....

Movie is made my meera, she is an indian.. she made a movie that for the first times shows pakistanis as reasonable good humans... Character of changez brings the mainstream pakistani first time in the limelight.... so thank and indian film-maker for doing that rather than crying why she chose indian actors, she had a choice of not bringing this story forward and your pakistani filmakers are too busy making movies like "Madam X"...

About "Khuda ke liye" please watch the movie again... the movie shows that even a hightly educated guy can be turned to terrorism and if you think it had a great ending then check it out... the guys turning young kids into terrorist, sit in their mosque without any problems... even at the end of the movie the molvi who made this guy into terrorist is sitting freely in the mosque, this guy trained in with taliban and yet set free by court.. only positive in the movie is the girl from UK... so if you think khuda ke liye did anything good for pakistan then you are wrong.. now the only wonderful part of Khuda ke liye is the debate by Naseerudeen Shah that help people understand soft and justice loving side of Islam and guess what, Mr. Shah is an indian...

I can assure you no one saw anything india or paki in this movie till you started this thread... it was an struggle of a young man to find his identity and then be at peace with it... Meera did not fall into the trap of making it too commercial and she stayed true to the story...

So if i was you, i would say thanks to an Indian for making a wonderful movie about pakistani youth, who are mis-understood by the world...

reply

[–] Falconeer 11 years ago

I agree with you; but at this point I'm just happy that they didn't use Tom Cruise with a spray on tan and dyed black hair! You know if this was a Hollywood production they would pull something like that...

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

reply

[–] shutterbug_iconium 11 years ago

http://filmicafe.co/celebrity_interview_detail/296_The_Reluctant_Funda mentalist___Interview_with_Mira_Nair

Q: Riz Ahmed is winning raves for his performance as Changez. How did you cast this British actor/rapper into the role of a Pakistani in America?

A: The most important thing always, for me, was casting Changez. It was a very tough role to be able to inhabit with finesse, familiarity and elegance. I find the combination of machismo and beauty in Pakistani men quite alluring. So I was counting on a charismatic Pakistani actor, or certainly a sub-continental one, someone who could move fluidly between the languages and disparate worlds with truthful ease, and have the skill to carry the movie on his shoulders. I wanted someone to swoon over. We were told of Riz and called him, he was in the recording studio but dropped everything and came over. I gave him the scene with his father at the wedding and I said, just read it. It was a cold reading but because of the time he just had to do it. And he did. It was so moving because he understood what Changez had done to his father. He understood shame and he understood honor. Those things are hard to explain. And the role was his immediately.

Mira whittled the list down to two actors in Pakistan, one in Lahore, the other in Karachi, however, "visas for them were absolutely impossible, which meant I had to visit them there,which was very arduous," Nair explains. "Also we couldn't test them with the actress for Erica in New York." The challenges became insurmountable and by December 2010, in London en route to Paris on a financing trip, Nair and Pilcher engaged English casting director Susie Figgis. She suggested Riz Ahmed, a British actor and rapper, who is gaining a reputation as an articulate and intelligent rising star, thanks to roles in independent films such as Shifty, The Road to Guantanamo and Four Lions.

reply