411 Movies Interviews: Pooja Kumar
Posted by Al Norton on 08.06.2009
411's Al Norton sits down for an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hero star Pooja Kumar
Pooja Kumar is a former Miss India USA who has appeared in multiple TV shows and movies, including a performance in Flavors that earned her a Screen Actors Guild Emerging Actor award. She stars opposite Chris Kattan in the three part IFC musical mini-series Bollywood Hero, which begins tonight at 10 pm.
Al Norton: How did you get involved with Bollywood Hero?
Pooja Kumar: I happened to be in India in January and that's when they were casting. I was catching a flight back that night and a friend of mine who knows the producers told me I had to audition for it. I asked her why and she kept telling me I had to, so I said ok. I went it, auditioned, and that as that.
Al Norton: When they described the project to you, what did you think of the idea (the story follows Chris Kattan, playing a version of himself, trying to make over his image by going over to India to star in a Bollywood musical)?
Pooja Kumar: The casting director called me before the audition and said it's and IFC three part mini-series, starring Chris Kattan, filming in India. As soon as they said they were shooting in India, I knew I had to do it. I love going to India anytime I can and I take any opportunity to go and shoot there. When they told me Chris was in it I was even more sold; he is charming and hilarious and to play opposite him was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
It was both those things plus working with the same line crew as Slumdog Millionaire, so it was just like, "wow, what a blend of Hollywood and Bollywood." There was no question that I would do it.
Al Norton: So unlike your character, you did not have to be convinced Chris could pull it off?
Pooja Kumar: (Laughing) It was totally opposite what I had to act in the film.
Al Norton: What did you think the first time you saw him dance in rehearsals?
Pooja Kumar: He is very talented and very charismatic and he worked really, really hard during the dance rehearsals. I was quite surprised at how well he picked it up – so quickly- and just got into it. I really appreciated how gung-ho he was about it. He didn't get frustrated, he embraced it so well. He did such a great job with the dancing.
Al Norton: How much of the version of Chris Kattan he plays in the movie is who he is in real life?
Pooja Kumar: I would definitely say about 85% (laughing). He is very much like his character. There are a lot of differences but that's mostly him.
Al Norton: I have only seen part one of the show and you didn't do any dancing…Is there something to look forward to in parts two and three?
Pooja Kumar: Since I play the producer my character is not going to be doing any dancing but we do have a really nice surprise in the last episode that you'll have to watch for.
Al Norton: What was the shoot like?
Pooja Kumar: The shoot was amazing. We shot 180 pages in about two months, which is quite remarkable, and we finished five days ahead of schedule. That's mind blowing as far as I'm concerned. You're talking about a crew from local India, the producers from America, a director from Australia, a DP from Israel…You're talking about a truly international project coming together in a foreign land. The whole crew and cast gelled together so quickly, and that was one of the most amazing things about the project. Shooting in India is not the easiest thing; it's hot, there are people everywhere, there are tons of limitations…Everyone came together and was patient with everything.
Saying those things about India, being there was also the beautiful part as well. There are so many people; you just can't imagine it until you are there.
Al Norton: How hard is it being an Indian actress in Hollywood? Do parts have to be specifically written for an Indian character for you to get a reading?
Pooja Kumar: It's tough, there's no question. There aren't that many parts being written for Indian actresses and in order for the industry to start thinking outside the box we've got to start creating more projects for Indians to get our faces out there. I think it's opening up for us with things like Bend It Like Beckham and Slumdog and their success rate, there will be more opportunities for Indian actresses. This project hopefully will show India in a fun and romantic way, which US television hasn't seen before. All of these things hopefully will lead to more roles for Indian actresses, which means more collaboration, which leads to bigger and better projects.
Al Norton: Do you end up seeing the same group at the auditions?
Pooja Kumar: Yes. There are very few of us who are pursing this on a full time level; most of our families have told us to be Doctors or Engineers and so it's only recently with our generation that we've been able to convince our parents that this is something we should go in to. We've got to be pioneers and make things happen for the next generation. If we're not going to start now, it's never going to happen.
Al Norton: That segues perfectly into my asking how you go from getting a degree in Political Science and Finance from Washington University, a very, very good school, to the entertainment industry?
Pooja Kumar: It was a very interesting transition. I was Miss India USA, and that happened while I was in college, and as soon as that happened opportunities opened up for me in India and out here (Los Angeles). I have no regrets and love what I do. At least my Dad is happy that I have a degree (laughing).
Al Norton: You recently spent some time hosting a live game show in India. Was that a different skill set than you were used to using?
Pooja Kumar: That was two hours live every day, and we shot the whole thing in Munich, Germany, and they used a satellite feed to India. It was in Hindi and in English; what they call it is Hinglish, which is a new language (laughing). To do that in two languages, and improv, for two hours live was the most difficult job I ever had. To keep the live audience engaged, to have the people still watch and play the game…People would call in on the phone and that's how we would pick the winners. That was a totally different skill set; I really had to step up my improv skills. Not only that but to do it in Hindi and in English. I think I did ok (laughing).
Al Norton: Do you think that experience will help you to be an even better actress?
Pooja Kumar: Absolutely. I think any project, whether it's TV hosting or game shows or commercials, all of these experiences help you a lot as you can take the things you learn and use them in your next job. Plus you can experiment on yourself, with how you look and how you annunciate and how you breathe…All of those things will help you no matter what. You take each of those experiences and put it into the role you are doing next.
Al Norton: How did you get into producing (Kumar has several projects she is producing currently)?
Pooja Kumar: The producing part just kind of came along. Someone came to me to tell me about a short film called 1001 Auditions, about an actress who lives in NY, and I said, "oh my God, that's my story!" When he approached me I said, "yes, I have to do this." Part of it goes back to what I said before about being pioneers and creating projects. If we start writing and producing and come up with these projects, more people will see them and more doors will open. Any of the big Hollywood stars have their own production companies and produce their own projects. Once you do that, to see it from it's core, from nothing all the way to the screen, its quite extraordinary when that happens. It's not easy but one definitely has to do it.
Al Norton: What's your 30 second pitch on why people should tune in to Bollywood Hero?
Pooja Kumar: People who appreciate globalness and who appreciate culture will really enjoy it. We all can identify with trying to find ourselves and to be who we are and I think that's the trouble that a lot of us have, that we're just not comfortable in our skin. If we just embrace it and love it than nothing can hold you back and you'll be happy. That's why everyone should watch the, because you can see all of these people go on a journey and find out that what they have in front of them is the best thing ever.
Don't Miss Bollywood Hero, tonight, Friday, and Saturday at 10 pm on IFC
