Chris Edmund, who taught Hollywood star Hugh Jackman the nuances of acting, was in Mumbai with actor-cum-drama teacher Dalip Sondhi to show aspiring actors the finer aspects of the art
Acting means great parts, wonderful linesspeaking those glorious words...Shakespeare, Ibsen – Kathy Selden, Singin’ in the Rain
Acting is art. It is hard work. And most importantly, it is connecting with the audience. This is a lesson imparted by artists the world over, which is what makes their jobs exciting. Two such artists—one who is actor Hugh Jackman’s acting teacher—came to India to teach at SDDS Education, an Andheri-based institute that was founded in 2012 to develop the highest level of professional acting and to direct programmes in collaboration with leading Indian, Australian and British film and theatre professionals.
A universal language
Speaking to this newspaper, Dalip Sondhi, the founder of SDDS International Institute of Dramatic Art (SIIDA), said that it took him a long time to understand that cinema and acting, the world over, are similar in many ways, and thathe hasn’t looked back since he realised this. “Working in India has also been a revelation. The students are bright and are willing to experiment. It makes a teacher’s life so much easier when the student does not have a mental block,” explains Sondhi, who is also producing an Indo-Australian movie with Nandita Das.
Chris Edmund, who has come from Australia to teach the students for two weeks, corroborates Sondhi’s description of Indian students. “It is my first visit to India and the reaction of studentshere is pretty similar to what we see the world over. Students of acting are open to learning and the experience, thus, has beenextremely gratifying,” he said.
Learning from a master
Interestingly, Edmund is also Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman’s acting teacher. He describes his former pupil as a disciplined man who never missed a class. “His dedication is amazing. You expect that as a superstar he will have hang-ups, but you will not meet someone as dedicated as Hugh,” said Edmund.
Edmund also went on to explain the general perception that people have of Jackman. “Because of the success of his character Wolverine, he has been portrayed as an action hero. However, one must remember that as a student of cinema, Hugh is capable of much more. He is 47 today, and he’s wrapping up the final Wolverine movie. After this, I’d like to see him do more Shakespearian drama and go back to stage,” concluded Edmund.
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