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Journalism of Courage
Possessing perhaps the greatest deadpan expression since Buster Keaton, Indian-born actor Kumar Pallana stole every scene in which he appeared in the 2001 comedy The Royal Tenenbaums as Gene Hackman8217;s loyal, albeit eccentric, valet.
In his latest venture, he even manages to upstage Oscar winner Tom Hanks in Steven Spielberg8217;s comedy The Terminal as Gupta 8212; an airport janitor with a deep, dark secret and a mistrust of everyone. Though the self-educated Pallana8217;s movie career spans only the past decade, the energetic 85-year-old has been performing most of his life 8212; making money for his family by travelling in India, Kenya and South Africa to perform feats of balance and yoga.
When asked whether juggling and plate-spinning were written into the script of The Terminal for him, Pallana said: 8216;8216;Tom Hanks said 8216;Let8217;s put it in8217;.8217;8217; 8216;8216;They Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have energy. I worked with other people in the film industry, but some people have the ego 8212; they chant 8216;me, me, me8217;. But they are the other side of the coin8230;so humble and so kind. It8217;s like working with a family,8217;8217; he added.
Pallana and his family eventually settled in Dallas, where he and his son operated a yoga studio/cafe called 8216;8216;The Cosmic Cup,8217;8217; whose regulars included University of Texas students Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson. When it came time to make their first film 8212; Bottle Rocket 8212; they gave Pallana a part. 8216;8216;They would come in the cafe and talk to me. They said they were shooting a movie and are you interested in being in it. I said yes. They were nice kids,8217;8217; Pallana said. Pallana has also appeared in Anderson8217;s Rushmore and Tenenbaums. 8212;LAT-WP
