‘I consider myself completely Indian’
The third day of the TATA literature live! The Mumbai litFest, witnessed a hilarious conversation on understanding the authenticity of being an Indian. Chaired by comedian Anuvab Pal, the conversation was titled Asli Desi KaunIJ or What is authentically IndianIJ Multi-faceted actor Kalki Koechlin was born in Pondicherry and hails from French parents and completed her schooling in Ooty. While channeling her Indian nationally she said, “I find it very amusing, sometimes I play along. It’s fun to do that. I consider myself completely Indian, however whenever I meet people they ask me — ‘Is your mom Indian, or your father or grandfatherIJ’.”
National award-winning filmmaker Hansal Mehta's gay drama Aligarh opened to thundering applause at 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The film is based on the true story of Aligarh University professor SR Siras, who was sacked on the charges of homosexuality. Playing the 64-year-old character, actor Manoj Bajpayee left the audiences in awe with his flawless performance. Talking before the screening, Mehta said, “It is an honour to have our film open the festival.”
Cooper loved the culinary world
Actor Bradley Cooper, who worked in several restaurants before hitting showbiz, says he learned a lot about the culinary world through a hard way, but loved every moment of it. The actor said, “I worked in kitchens and I was a busboy in a Greek restaurant when I was 15 and I was a prep cook in another restaurant when I was 18 for three months, where I was literally prepping all day long, the lowest in the totem pole of the brigade.” He added, “I felt like it was very hard, but I learned a lot and I felt the pain of being berated by the chef and I saw the hierarchy and the stress and the pressure. But I actually did thrive there and I loved it.” In his forthcoming film Burnt, Cooper plays the role of Adam Jones, a chef who destroys his career with drugs and his high-handedness.