London: Indian girls are all over the American prime time, making a strong presence on hit TV shows. Bangalore girl Tina Desai is the latest to join the Indian going international club, as she appears in a prominent role in The Wackowskis created Netflix Science fiction series Sense 8.
The actress rubs shoulders with the likes of Miguel Angel Silvestre, Brian J Smith, Aml Ameen, Jamie Clayton, Naveen Andrews, Doona Bae and many more in the show, which went on air since June 8.
Indian faces have made a remarkable presence on the international TV, of late. 'The Lunch Box' actress Nimrat Kaur turned down innumerable clichéd Bolllywood scripts to make an appearance as an ISI agent in 'Homeland 4' last year, while Priyanka Chopra’s hugely publicized role of half Caucasian-half Indian FBI trainee in ABC’s 'Quantico' has brought Indian actors into prominence. Delhi boy Suraj Sharma too chose to appear as Pakistani medical student in 'Homeland 4', after the grand debut in Ang Lee’s 'Life Of Pi'.
Tina’s presence in 'Sense 8' is yet another milestone that confirms the increasing demand of the Indian actors in the western showbiz. “There is a lot of interest in ethnic casting abroad. Talent is being exchanged around the world by all industries. It is a good time,” says Tina, who plays a God fearing Mumbai-based scientist Kala Dandekar, preparing to enter a love less marriage. The show is about eight strangers from different ethnicity connect through telepathy on tragic death. Anupam Kher plays Kala’s father Sanyam Dandekar, who works as a chef in a restaurant.
Tina earlier played Sunaina, a Jaipur girl working in a call centre in John Madden’s English comedy 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' and its sequel 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel', and thus, is not new to working with an international crew. Yet each project is a challenge for her as every filmmaker has specific and distinct requirement.
'Sense 8' is more about people possessing supernatural powers. Tina tried to participate in the overall concept of the show, which was about “linking emotionally and mentally with other seven members.”
As soon as she learnt that there was a requirement of an Indian face in the show, Tina simply “self taped” a small video for auditions. “I connected with the directors and casting directors through Skype later,” says Tina, hoping a mixed response from hardcore fans of fiction and drama. “It’s about intense human emotions and addresses several issues about identity, faith, sexuality, what we are when we are alone and when that privacy can be accessed by seven strangers suddenly. It’s cerebral, and is like no other show,” says Tina.
Working in Marigold Hotel franchise was a learning experience for Tina. Working with Dame Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy, transformed her as an actor. “The level of dedication and passion that these actors have considering their age and seniority is awe-inspiring. They do not take their work and adulation for granted. They are fun loving and young at heart, at the same time,” says Tina. “Everything about their personality is beautiful and makes them iconic.”
Seen in 'Table No. 21' opposite Rajeev Khandelwal and in a small role in Saif Ali Khan’s 'Cocktail', Tina has ably balanced her work in India and abroad. Enjoying comparisons with Frieda Pinto, India’s one and only Hollywood export in the real sense, Tina plans to take up one thing at a time. “I've been out of the country for a year and a half now. When I return to India, I will actively start looking for projects,” she concludes.
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