Indian actor opens up on Hollywood debut, what it really takes to break into industry
Indian actor Disha Patani is expanding her international footprint with Holiguards Saga — The Portal of Force. Ahead of the film’s release, Disha spoke about sharing screen space with Kevin Spacey, and being directed by him in the film. She also discussed what it really takes to break into the international market.
According to the actor, Spacey encourages his actors to draw from their own lives and instincts rather than sticking to a script formula. “He is amazing. Being an actor, he understands his actors. He is one of the finest actors in the world. He gives his actors a lot of space to experiment,” Disha said.
She added, “He would tell us to draw from our own experiences. We would be encouraged to think of questions like ‘How would you react to a situation like this?’ ‘Would you cry?’ ‘What would you feel?’ ‘How would you emote?'”
Disha also shared that Spacey would personally walk the cast through each scene before shooting. “Every morning, he would sit with us and take us through the scene. I found that really special. I don’t think I had done that with any of the creators in the past,” she said, adding, “It’s also like taking some responsibility in understanding the character and delivering it.”
Meanwhile, although many may assume breaking into Hollywood came down to talent alone, Disha shared that the process was far more technical, citing representation, auditions and even logistics such as visas. “A lot depends on accessibility,” she said.
Disha stated, “Hollywood focuses heavily on audition templates. You have to audition for things. It also depends on how accessible that is for you and who you are signed with. Destiny also plays a role. Sometimes, they just end up seeing your work and offer you projects and auditions. It also depends on the visa and other logistics. It’s all very technical.”
Further, she revealed that a performer’s physical presence in the country mattered just as much as their audition. “It is a different country at the end of the day but you will have to be present. You can’t sit here and crack roles there. You can audition from here, but it is best to go there, stay for a bit and work on it. It is the same with any country,” she said.
Having last featured in Welcome to the Jungle, Disha is now set to appear in Awarapan 2 alongside Emraan Hashmi, before making her Hollywood debut alongside Spacey, Dolph Lundgren and Tyrese Gibson.