Freida Pinto on how she auditioned for six months to be part of Danny Boyle’s Slumdog MillionaireThree years ago, Freida Pinto was just another Literature and Film Appreciation student at St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, who eagerly attended screenings of Danny Boyle films like Trainspotting and 28 Days Later. Today, the success of her debut film, Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, has transformed her into a red-carpet-worthy star. “I’m pinching myself. I find it hard to believe that this movie has become such a huge hit,” says Pinto. The 24-year-old is ecstatic about being part of the Boyle brand of filmmaking, not to mention sharing screen-space with Anil Kapoor. “There are many films about Mumbai, but this one must be the most honest effort,” says the actor, who plays the stunning vixen Latika who doubles as the hero Jamal’s love interest and inspires him to keep going despite a life of hardship, which includes getting tortured after winning a million rupees in a game show. “Hats off to Danny for depicting the slums like he did. Nothing was masked or touched up,” says Pinto.Two actors, Rubina and Tanvi, play Latika’s younger days, so Pinto had to draw from their work. “When I went for my first shot, I had already seen their scenes and there was enormous pressure because I had to match up to their performance,” says Pinto. She says she had wanted to act ever since she was five, and that “the urge grew stronger after watching Charlize Theron’s Monster as part of our course”, but she did not wait around for a big Bollywood break or a godfather. Instead, she did the most practical thing that came by. “I got a chance to host an international travel show, and took it up without hesitation,” she says. It was here that Pinto earned her audition for the role in Slumdog Millionaire. “The casting director told me Boyle was coming to India to shoot this film, and they were looking for actors to play the roles of Jamal, Salim and Latika. I didn’t believe them. I thought why would Danny Boyle come to India to shoot a film?”Pinto finally bagged the role after auditioning for almost six months. “I would go in for an audition every month. Every time Danny would say, ‘Fantastic, I will see you again’,” says Pinto, adding that in the long run it was all worth it. “It was like attending an acting school, which I hadn’t done prior to that.” Now, perhaps, she can prepare for the Golden Globe night.
