Indias new Hollywood export

Comparisons with Freida Pinto haven't deterred India's new crossover talent Tena Desae,who is sure of carving her own identity.

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Ever since Freida Pinto made the big cut (read Hollywood),every young aspirant trying to make a mark in this unfamiliar territory has been equated to her. Ditto is the case with Mumbai-based actress Tena Desae. Her impressive performance in John Madden-directed The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel may have won her rave reviews,but then the world wants to know if she is another Pinto in the making. I dont think they mean it bad when they say that,because she has achieved a lot and kind of set a benchmark. But then one wants to create their own identity and thats what I am striving for, says Desae,who will be seen opposite Dev Patel in her forthcoming film.

The film which releases in India on May 4,is a story about a bunch of British retirees who come to India to spend their retirement years at an exotic hotel. When they find out it is not,they stay on and experience India. Desae,who does not divulge much about the role,terms that it is her first attempt at comedy.

Desae is a familiar face on Indian television,thanks to the number of commercials she has done. She has also worked with three Khans Aamir,Shah Rukh and Saif at least as far as the advertisements are concerned. Yet,when she came to Mumbai from Bangalore in 2006 after being selected for Channel Vs Get Gorgeous she wasnt inclined only to modelling. I knew I wanted to act. Thats the reason I went for four to five auditions a day. Eventually,her perseverance paid off when she was chosen to play a very intense role in her first film,Yeh Faasley (2011).

Incidentally,all the acting she learned also happened on the sets of her first film. I wasnt a trained actor when I gave auditions. But on the sets of Yeh Faasley,it was Anupam Kher who took me under his wings and made sure I emoted right, she says. Post this,she signed her second film Sahi Dhande Galat Bandhe. However,getting her way in Bollywood wasnt easy still and her round of auditions continued.

As they say,every cloud has a silver lining,Desae found hers when one day,one of the casting directors she knew from her modelling days gave her a call. Being in Mumbai,my heart was set on Bollywood films. So when casting director Seher contacted me for an audition,I was initially confused. But then Desae went ahead and tested for it. I went through three rounds of auditions. Even the thought of working with Judi Dench and Maggie Smith was overwhelming, she says,who couldnt control her excitement when she bagged the film and as she puts it,ran around my house like a crazy girl.

Now,with the movie complete,one would assume that she would be keen on signing more international films. But Desae has a different plan. I want to do films in all languages Hindi,English,Korean,Japanese,Spanish. It is the language of cinema that is of utmost importance to me.

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