Danny Denzongpa tells DNA about the professional attitude of actors from the West, the 'silly' films he's worked in and what he does to avoid getting stereotyped
Veteran actor Danny Denzongpa tells DNA about the professional attitude of actors from the West, the 'silly' films he's worked in and what he does to avoid getting
stereotyped
Your forthcoming film Frozen becomes the first film in 40 years to be released in black and white. We hear you guys shot in -25 degree temperature?
We had a very challenging shoot. It was winter in Ladakh and yes we did shoot at -25 degree. It was freezing like hell there. The hotels had frozen water pipes and that meant we had to carry hot water in buckets to take a shower every single day. The film is very different and realistic and it has amazing cinematography.
You are also doing Endhiran with Rajnikanth and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan. How was it teaming up again with the south Indian superstar?
We had a great time earlier while shooting for Hum and Bhagwan Dada and it is such a pleasure to be doing a film with him again.
I play the main antagonist in it but with Rajnikant doing a double role, there’s hardly any footage left for me (laughs). But I agreed to do it since Rajnikant was sweet enough to ask me if I could be a part of this one. I was pleasantly surprised. The budget of the film is Rs 175 crore, it’s huge.
You have also done a Hollywood film with Brad Pitt called Seven Years In Tibet. Tell us something interesting from that shoot.
Hollywood actors are much better than our Bollywood stars. They are always on time are extremely professional. They are no tantrum kings or queens and there’s no entourage of security guards following them all the time.
I had a good time working with Brad. One morning I saw him running towards his van brushing his teeth. He is an extremely cordial man despite the popularity he has garnered.
But if you had a good time, why haven’t you signed more Western ventures?
There is tremendous stereotyping of actors in Hollywood like we see here, too. A person gets typecast for his looks. After I did Seven Years In Tibet, I have got offers but all of them wanted me to play a Tibetan monk or a Mongolian lord. I don’t like repeating myself and I don’t want to see me typecast. I’m like a trout always swimming against the tide. I have always tried to do something different. I’m quite satisfied at what I have done.
What do you think about your last release Karzzzz? The film and you were panned by the critics.
I have done many silly films and I have to tell you this that I don’t watch my films anymore. I got so fed up with these films that I had left it for three years too. But I know that if I had not done such films and only chosen to do serious and meaningful cinema, I wouldn’t have been here doing an interview. I would have been wiped out.
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