What makes Bollywood the ultimate destination for foreign actors

New Delhi: To the arty, snooty, superior, culturally-driven creature, Bollywood is a dirty word – something symptomatic of all that is crass, dedicated to pander and cater to the lowest common denominator. However, seeing its gigantic popularity in the farthest corners of the globe, it has to be agreed that those guys must be doing something right, huh?

Forget the sizzling porn queen Sunny Leone and dazzlers Amy Jackson and Nargis Fakhri gracing the marquee and seriously taking lessons in learning Hindi to enhance their brand equity in B-town, the question that seems to zonk most of the arty crowd is, “Why are kids from all over the globe so fixated on Bollywood that they are prepared to drop everything and zoom down to India’s masala-ville to chance their luck? What is so special, seductive, alluring and unique that they are willing to ignore, reject and overlook the cinema of India’s masters – Ray, Ghatak, Sen, Benegal, even today’s celebrated art-house film makers – and make a bee-line for the hard-core creators of chhamak-chhallo?”

For starters – say Bolly admirers – the Bollywood product is matchless and one-of-a-kind. “In no other cinema on planet earth will you find such a heady cocktail of song and dance, colour, passion, emotion, romance, melodrama – all presented on superbly over-the-top style. To the restrained, subdued and understated West, this is…overwhelming. It represents life, with all cylinders firing, full-on. It may not sweep too many votes in Cannes, Venice, Berlin or the Oscars, but it is increasingly winning friends and influencing people, everywhere.” No wonder the world’s ‘youngistan’ are frequent visitors and they include wide-eyed fans from Italy, Germany, Japan, Morocco and France. In fact, Mumbai’s Acting Schools have several of them as dedicated students.

Never before has Bollywood seen an influx of foreign models as it is seeing now with models and actresses from Latin America, US, Europe, France and Asia trying their best to get into the larger-than-life dream that is Indian cinema. With loads of oomph and bodies honed to perfection the foreign models, even if they appear in small roles or a song in a film, are giving our girls tough competition. Here are our top 10.
Playboy covergirl Candice Boucher will make her Bollywood debut as a sand artist in director Prashant Chadha's 'Aazaan'. Acclaimed sand artist Alexandra Konofalskaya was flown down from Belarus to train Candice for her role. 'Aazaan' is an international espionage film about an informant who has to go undercover beyond enemy lines to save the nation from destruction by biological warfare. Candice Boucher is a South African model. Magazines she has modelled for include FHM, GQ, Cosmopolitan, Sports Illustrated and Elle. She has appeared in advertising campaigns for Fila and Speed, and is currently one of the faces of Intimissimi and Guess Jeans. Candice said in a press statement that she never imagined herself in a Bollywood film but now she's looking forward to its premiere.
The British model and the ex-girlfriend of F1 racer, Jenson Button, debuted in 'Love Aaj Kal' as Jo, Saif Ali Khan's Caucasian girlfriend. But in her own words, Florence says it is unlikely she will appear in a Bollywood follow-up. Reason? She says there aren't many parts out there for people with blonde hair and fair skin.
Giselle Monteiro is a Brazilian model and actress who made her debut playing the role of 'Harleen Kaur' in Imtiaz Ali's 'Love Aaj Kal'. Giselle also stars in 'Always Kabhi Kabhi' under the Red Chillies Entertainment banner scheduled to release on June 17, 2011. Giselle is the brand ambassador of Wills Lifestyle, Movil Mobiles and PC Jewellers in India. The actress, who has walked the ramp for Rohit Bal, Ritu Kumar and Ranna Gill, apparently impressed SRK so much that he decided to cast her for Always Kabhi Kabhi. Monteiro came to Mumbai in 2008. She started her modeling career at the age of seventeen and travelled all over the world.
This Miss Sri Lanka plays a role in 'Murder 2'. There are apparently a lot of steamy scenes between Emraan Hashmi and Jacqueline Fernandez in the film directed by Mohit Suri. Fernandez replaced 'Murder' star Mallika Sherawat in the sequel.
Remember the Latin American heroine of 'Kites'? Barbara Mori, an Uruguyan-born Mexican actress starred opposite Hrithik Roshan in the film. Hrithik played a salsa teacher who speaks only Hindi and English. Barbara Mori plays a Latina who speaks only Spanish. But they understand each other through the language of love.
Bruna Abdullah was born in Brazil to Brazilian and Arabian parents. She is known for her role of Giselle in Punit Malhotra's 'I Hate Luv Storys', alongside Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor. She also featured in Channel V's show India's Hottest.
Koechlin has earned her spot on this list by virtue of being the daughter of French parents. Her parents decided to stay back in India and settled in Puducherry. She debuted in Anurag Kashyap's critically acclaimed 2009 Hindi film Dev.D. Koechlin can speak Tamil, English and French but she had to learn Hindi to prepare for her role in Dev.D.
Lisa Lazarus is a British model who debuted in the Salman Khan starrer 'Veer'. She won the Miss Universe UK pageant. Lazarus was born in Llanelli, Wales in 1987, the daughter of psychic journalist Diane Lazarus. Lazarus is rumoured to have dated Catalan footballer Gerard Pique during his time playing for Manchester United.
Rosa Catalano is an Italian model who started her career with an item number. Born in Italy but brought up mainly in Switzerland, Catalano has earned a name mostly for dating Saif Ali Khan. She has also appeared in a dance reality show.
English model Antonio Bernath appeared in Vivek Oberoi starrer 'Kisna'. Antonia is a United States-born British actress. Her feature film debut was with 'Kisna: The Warrior Poet' where she played Catherine, as one of the first leading British actresses in a Bollywood film.

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What attracts foreign actors towards Bollywood

What is so special, seductive, alluring and unique about Bollywood that is attracting foreign actors to it?

There are other reasons too, driving this rush hour traffic from the West. The global reach of Bollywood and its influence is an important factor along with a change in signposts. For example, in a number of cases, casting, plot, concepts and storylines are in an exciting make-over mode, lending the product a more universal appeal with legitimate scope for foreign actors. Giselli Monteiro (Love Aaj Kal) and Moufid Aziz – both Imtiaz Ali discoveries – are excellent examples. Anupam Kher’s acting institute ‘Actor Prepares’ and Subhash Ghai’s ‘Whistling Woods’ are only two of the reputed institutes where these kids learn their trade and craft. The latest is New York’s legendary Stella Adler.

Let’s face it. In no other country on earth is cinema so insanely loved and followed, transforming stars to gods and movies to religion. No other cinema invests its wares with the vigour, vibrancy, colour, energy, emotion, spirit and passion that people – aspirants and fans – who have a lust for life. It may lack class, artistry, subtlety and nuance of the art-house cinema – but for a sheer, broad-based celebration of life, Bollywood rocks.

Little wonder that foreigners keep pouring in to the film capital, hoping that they make it to the silver screen. If Kat, Sunny, Amy and Nargis can step into the frame, why can’t they?

So, chalo Bollywood!