One for all: ‘Diversity not all about skin colour, ethnicity’

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ star Freida Pinto feels it no more is a white person’s world.

NEW DELHI: For Freida Pinto, diversity is not about being “black or brown” nor is it confined to what is on camera and what is not. The US-based Indian actor, who found fame with the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire, said unless the debate on diversity extends beyond skin colour, it is pointless and redundant.

“Everybody wants to talk about diversity, but I like to broaden the definition. It is not just diversity in terms of ethnicity and skin colour, as in black or brown. It has become a redundant conversation,” Freida said in an interview.

“I think diversity is a compulsory subject matter and, yes, there is a certain issue in films. But look at the world ... It does not look like a white person’s world. There are different kinds of people in it and different kinds of actors and languages.”

The 31-year-old, who has already worked with the likes of Christian Bale and Woody Allen, feels there is a need to focus on other important aspects of film-making than just see what meets the eye. “It is not only the representation that you see on camera; what about the people who write? What about the people who direct, what about the people who produce? So for me, diversity becomes a very pointless conversation after a while if people are only talking about and stick to the colour of skin.”

Having spent only a few years in the entertainment industry, Freida has carved out a niche of her own in world cinema through her roles in films such as Miral, Day of the Falcon, Immortals, Desert Dancer and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. She was also seen with Bale in Terrence Malick’s film Knight of Cups, which brought to light Hollywood’s underbelly.

On her part, she is glad that she didn’t wander on “the path where there is a lot of negativity” in the industry. “There is a lot of criticism, a lot of temptation that is always around you and I could see it. I was pretty much protected by the group of people around me and I never had one of the things.” Her journey, the Mumbai girl said, has been a great ride.

“I feel it is important to basically take an opportunity that comes your way, but also kind of be able to sit back and enjoy. It is harder for me to do the latter as I always think I am so young that I have to keep going ... I have to keep doing that.”

Freida, who was a model in Mumbai before she Danny Boyle approached her for his film, said, “It is great to have an ambition but it is kind of a little sad when people don’t enjoy their success.”

As far as her current work slate is concerned, she will be voicing Mowgli’s adoptive mother in Jungle Book: Origins, Warner Brothers’ motion capture live-action adventure. She will also be seen in Yamasong: March of the Hollows.

Other than that, she is also pitching in to bring women empowerment in the industry via a non-profit production company called We Do It Together. She attended the ongoing Cannes Film Festival for the same.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2016.

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