Indian actor Freida Pinto got her big break in director Danny Boyle’s 2008 Oscar-winning hit, Slumdog Millionaire. Now, she is hitting the silver screens in her first big-budget, effects-driven Hollywood film titled Rise of the Planet of the Apes. In her upcoming film, Pinto plays an expert in primate behaviour opposite James Franco and a bunch of genetically enhanced apes who prepare to take over the world. The film is a prequel to the popular Planet of the Apes movies of the 1960’s and 70’s, and follows director Tim Burton’s take on the series.
It’s been over 40 years since the first Apes film with Charlton Heston came out. Where does this film fit into the story?
It’s a modern-day story, set in the present time. It’s about how a scientific experiment with a potentially life-saving, new drug goes terribly wrong and leads to an ape revolution. I think the fact that it deals with topics such as animal testing is very relevant and current. This version is very different from the 1960’s original.
This is quite a cautionary tale about human’s
tampering with nature, genetics and science. What did you learn from it?
It’s a film with a message. It made me realise how important it is to start thinking about very serious issues and not just be numb to them. It definitely made me wonder how far do you go in order to improve people’s lives and fight disease and at what cost?
How was it playing Phaedra in another big action film, Immortals?
I actually shot it before Apes although it’s not out until November this year. I’m the oracle priestess who can see and predict the future, although she doesn’t quite know how it’ll unfold. Although it’s set in ancient Greece, we shot it in Montreal, and it was an amazing experience. [Director] Tarsem Singh created a living set, with all these fantastic cliffs and shrines, so it wasn’t just all green screen.
You’re starring in all these big Hollywood epics. Will you ever act in a Bollywood film?
I’m trying to balance it all with smaller Indian films. I just did Trishna with director Michael Winterbottom. It is my second Indian film after Slumdog, so I feel I’ve done the Bollywood thing in a way.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2011.
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Doctor Need a Doctor.
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
And, you call yourself a man of science? Are you even a real Doctor?
Even the World's richest power the United States has areas of very low poverty. How do you think the Economic recession of 2008 was caused? Because people could not afford to pay back their loans anymore.
I am not at all surprised that you reject these findings, done none other than the UN(mind you). To just to educate you let me quote the findings of another such report, but on Pakistan.
"the Task Force on Food Security based on the World Bank estimates of poverty head count ratio of 29.2 percent in 2004-05 estimated that poverty head count increased to 33.8 percent in 2007-08 and 36.1 percent in 2008-09 or about 62 million people in 2008-09 were below the poverty line."
http://finance.gov.pk/survey/chapters/13-Poverty09.pdf
Am I really surprised that you reject these findings? No, not really. You can bury your head deep inside the sand but India will not stop growing and bringing people out of poverty and Pakistan will ever be stuck in a vicious cycle and it will be because of people like you.
P.S. Note the words "increased to". As I pointed in my previous post, poverty in Pakistan is not only greater than India, it is also increasing. The slums of Mumbai will be replicated or are being replicated in Karachi, among all the bloodshed. Not only Karachi will be violent, but also very very poor.
@BruteForce: A picture speaks itself a thousands of words. The fact is in front of the whole world which you cannot deny.
UN and Government of India say "Poverty going to be less". " may be ", "hoping to" - they are not for sure. There are lots of "ifs" and "buts" but no concrete result so far. On the contrary we have seen these slumps are increasing fast in India and spreading all over India including Kolkotta. A new generation is being born on the footpaths of India. It seems that you are living in the hope of hollow promises which it seems will never be achieved and Indian slumps will be going from bad to worse.
Alhamdollilah, we in Pakistan do not have any slumps what a glaring comparison of reality.
BRAVO FREIDA- You make all South Asians proud.
@AD:
Seriously. "I m lovin it."
I Luv this guy Saleem Siddiq.He is realy a braveheart a fighter. "Rassi jal gayi par bal nahi gaya"
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi: I don't understand why are you so obsessed about slums in India that you completely derailed the topic. The article is about a movie!! Rather than bashing you need to check the reality if you are so concerned. Over 27 million in Pakistan are living in slums which is around 45% of the urban population compared to 25% in India and China as of 2007.
http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/stats-on-human-rights/statistics-on-poverty/statistics-on-poverty-urbanization-and-slums/
The UN-Habitat puts the number over 60% for Pakistan http://www.unhabitat.org/documents/media_centre/APMC/Slum trends in Asia.pdf
@sara: Seems like a made up person and a made up name.
is dr. saleem for real???
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
India brings out more people out of poverty than any other Country and the UN says the poverty is going to be halved to 22% in 2015 from a high of 51% in 1991.
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/MDG2011AsiaEN.pdf
It goes,"In Southern Asia, however, only India, where the poverty rate is projected to fall from 51 per cent in 1990 to about 22 per cent in 2015, is on track to cut poverty in half by the 2015 target date, the report finds."
Most economists agree that poverty rate can only be increased it the birth rate is lowered and the growth rate of GDP increased to or above 6%, which enables creation of jobs for the people who are already unemployed. Every year a Country like Pakistan fails to grow 6% of more poverty increases. In the past decade the average Pakistani growth is around 4%, compared to India's phenomenal 8%.
While poverty in India is decreasing, it is increasing in Pakistan.
So, sorry to burst your bubble.
waiting for her next movie" Immortals". Should be good
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
The reason why you can't find poor people sleeping on the footpaths in Pakistan.......maybe because, they are undergoing training as suicide bombers elsewhere?
@ sugar "Swear on my heart- googled for half an hour but could not find out what is an "Indian SLUMP industry". Is it some kind of a Pump in a Slum or a Slum in a Pump"
Your swearing is like Indian Government swearing (while lies) about progress of India. Websites is full of Indian poverty and miseries. If Indian Government cannot do anything to improve their way of life, you Indian must collect charity for them for relief otherwise the NEXT Indian Generation will curse you and a bloody revolution is looks to be in offing in India.
Although there are numerous links, but I have glanced few links for your information (do not swear next time):
http://www.google.co.za/search?q=indian+slums+pictures&hl=en&biw=759&bih=556&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=iapATsj-Dc2mrAeZ5bDGBw&ved=0CCIQsAQ
http://artsytime.com/life-in-slums-of-mumbai/
http://izismile.com/2009/08/17/childrenofindianslums43_pics.html
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/05/dharavi-mumbai-slum/jonas-bendiksen-photography
http://www.defence.pk/forums/general-images-multimedia/23310-slums-india.htmlhttp://www.google.co.za/#hl=en&source=hp&q=indian+slums+pictures&oq=Indian+slum&aq=0&aqi=g4g-s1g5&aql=&gssm=c&gsupl=759l4327l0l8977l11l9l0l0l0l0l402l3062l2-2.6.1l9l0&fp=19af87c3cfc5b899&biw=759&bih=556
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianglanz/3303155124/
Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg - South Africa
Her acting was very average.. there werent really many dialogs in the movie anyways. The movie wasnt that great either.Maybe the 2nd part would be better?
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
I can understnad your pain. Get well soon .
Mannnnnn..!! this Doctor is Funny :D
Dr. Siddiqi is right. Things are terrible in India. The good Doctor was instrumental in discovering the cure to poverty and footpath living - something the rest of mankind has not been able to do since the start time. Just a few teething problems remain. He will work on cure for cancer after his next visit to Disneyland.
"Slumps of Mumbai has now created an emerging Hollywood star – vow Long live Indian Slump industry which spread all over India"
Swear on my heart- googled for half an hour but could not find out what is an "Indian SLUMP industry". Is it some kind of a Pump in a Slum or a Slum in a Pump.
Some Technology this
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
I am a pakistani myself but Dr Siddiqi for once even i dont agree with you.. "PATHETIC". Go watch the movie it will give you some releif.
Yeah right, her role was marginal in other wise a very ordinary below par movie, not worth mentioning performance.
Go girl! Keep the indian flag flying high. @Dr.Saleem Siddiqi: you must also be proud of her because she is after all a south asian.
Freida Pinto wasn't picked up from the slums to act in the movie (unlike the child stars of the movie). She already had some showbiz experience (advertisements mostly) before working with Danny Boyle. It is good to see that her star is rising. After the Rise of planet of the apes, her next movie Immortals also seems really impressive and promising from the trailers.
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
Its sad to see people bring in meanigless discussions instead of appreciating/ or not apprciating a peice of art. btw -Freida was great in the movie and the movie itself enjoyable
@author - you seem to know a lot about India. Thanks for your attempt to enlighten us. But tell me honestly, how much do you know about your own country?
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
Hello Please dont waste your Good Lucks on me as i am a sri lankan and not an Indian. For a Sri lankan who visits india regularly it is difficult to deny the visible progress on the ground.(Trust me on that).
As neighbours it is only desirable that we learn good things from each other be it economy , films etc....
Give credit where it is due, Live in denial and keep on suffering.
aslam- colombo
@aslam: @rk singh: Yes I fully agree with you POVERTY and CORRUPTION in India is going up and up. Rich are becoming richer and the poor - poorest. Good luck.
Regards
Dr. Saleem Siddiqi
Johannesburg - South Africa.
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
I challenge you to get even a Visa to The United states ....., (leave aside someone from your side making a mark in Hollywood).
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi: Are you sure you are not in a mental slump yourself? You are no doctor!
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
Dr Saleeem, the fact that you have chosen to live like a second-class citizen in a brazenly racist society tells us about the conditions you must have faced back home.
There is no point in living in a foreign country, if you are still going to remain talking like a brainwashed, indoctrinated jihadi.
I am sure you are an Unani doctor, that is why, still your mind has not broadened nor your perspective has changed !
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
Since we dont have anyone in pakistan to reach such heights, its the only way we can satisfy our already bruised and batterd egos. Carry on Doc- I m with you.
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi: Oh you poor south African.....are you ..really?
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
You keep on critcicizing anything which is Indian. And India keeps on rising????
@ Dr. Saleem Siddiqi
Slums are there in Mumbai, no doubt. But cannot call them poor. They exist because, the value of land these people hold is astronimical. They are illegally occupied ones. Many of the people living in mumbai slums have more than the PCI of pakistan.
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi:
"slump" and "vow".........and I must say wow!! Calling yourself a doctor aside, Sir, are you even educated? Because, given your language, I doubt if you even passed matriculation.
For your convenience,
vow: Noun: A solemn promise. Verb: Solemnly promise to do a specified thing
slump Verb: Sit, lean, or fall heavily and limply. Noun: A sudden severe or prolonged fall in the price, value, or amount of something
Slumps of Mumbai has now created an emerging Hollywood star - vow Long live Indian Slump industry which spread all over India - poverty driven face of India which they cannot hide under the carpet.
Regards
Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg - South Africa.