Pooja Batra’s brush with Hollywood

Actor Pooja Batra, who shifted base to Los Angeles after her marriage recently, attended the Sundance Film Festival there. She was apparently the only Bollywood actor to be present at the festival.

“I was the only Bollywood actress there. There were other Indian actors present like Aziz Ansari and my friend Parvesh Cheena. I was overwhelmed by how nice people were to me. This was my first time in Sundance and I loved the experience. The whole vibe of Park City is so festive, friendly and happy. I loved every bit of it. I saw a ton of screenings and sat through question and answer sessions — it was just awesome. The fact that I could see all these amazing movies and hear the directors and actors talk after was the best part. I loved Peter Jackson’s West of Memphis. The best part was that actor Damien Echols was there too. I also liked The Surrogate, Sleepwalk with Me, Spike Lee’s Red Lights and the Queen of Versailles.

Besides getting to watch movies, the actor also met a couple of Hollywood actors. “I met all my current favourite actors. I met Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad, Ryan Kwanten from True Blood, Octivia Spencer, Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) and John Krasinski.”

Though the actor is based out of LA, she has been quite clued in to Bollywood. “I am in touch with most of the people I have worked with. I am and will always be a part of the Indian film industry,” says Pooja. She has also recently finished work on the film The Spirit of Mumbai. “It’s a unique film as the entire team of the movie is American and they have made a Bollywood movie with Indian and American actors. I play the lead in the film,” she informs.