Bollywood is now 100% imported

Katrina, Camilla

Half- foreign, half- Indian heroines won’t do anymore. As Bollywood guns for global identity, the fad is to cast exotic beauties of wholly foreign origin in lead roles.

When Farhan Akhtar mooned over Spanish actress-model Ariadna Cabrol in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, their brief chemistry triggered off a fad.  Bollywood was looking at a new formula-twister when it came to casting and the trend of introducing foreign beauties in entered the next level.

Half-Kashmiri, half-British Katrina Kaif may have kickstarted the fad of importing exotic stunners in Hindi films over the past decade, but the focus is shifting. With Hindi films increasingly getting westernised and gunning for global identity, our very Indian heroes want to romance girls with a 100-per cent foreigner tag.

Ariadna may have had a prop role in the multi-starrer Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, but what is following is a steady inflow of foreign-bred beauties in lead roles. Last week’s crossover comedy Speedy Singhs saw the debut of American-Canadian beauty Camilla Belle, a budding Hollywood actress who starred in 2008’s prehistoric adventure hit, 10,000 BC.  South African model Candice Boucher makes her debut in the spy thriller Aazaan later this month. Half-Czech, half-Pakistani Nargis Fakhri has already created hype over her debut opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar, which releases in November. All this, despite Mexican beauty Barbara Mori’s debut in last year’s Kites flopping. What’s interesting is that girls of purely foreign origin were so far mostly acceptable only in item numbers.


Yana Gupta kickstarted that trend in 2003’s Dum with her Babuji dance. Spanish hottie Mayte Garcia was a hit in the Deedar de number of Dus. Brazilian beauty Bruna Abdalah did the Reham kare jig in Cash while Mariah Gomes raised the temperature with her item dance Neeyat in Teen Patti. That trend is changing now.  Bollywood has come a long way since Raj Kapoor introduced Russian actress Kseniya Ryabinkina in Hindi films in Mera Naam Joker. RK’s decision to cast Kseniya as a trapeze artist in his 1972 opus created hype, but it was a one-off instance that hardly started a trend. This time, the trend seems here to stay.


Ariadna Cabrol in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Ariadna Cabrol

Quick check

Ariadna is a Spanish actress-model who has worked in Spanish and Serbian films. She is from Barcelona and she began her career in 2000 with a short film, Foc al Cantir, and has also featured in Tom Tykwer’s 2006 global hit, Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer.

BOLLYWOOD BUZZ:

Ariadna played a Spanish girl in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Given the fact that the film starred two other heroines - Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin - Ariadna didn’t get much scope but she stood out for the chemistry she shared with Farhan Akhtar in her brief role. Director Zoya Akhtar kept her presence in the film under wraps while the film was being shot.

BYTE-WISE:

Zoya said she needed “a true-blue Spanish girl for the character” and Ariadna was “the film’s surprise package”.


Candice Boucher in Aazaan


QUICK CHECK:

Candice Boucher

Durban-born model Candice, 27, made her mark as a Playboycover girl in the magazine’s April 2010 issue. She has also modelled for FHM, GQ, Cosmopolitan and Elle.

Candice made heads turn at this year’s Cannes film festival when she walked the red-carpet for her Israeli film Hearat Shulayim(pic right) in a daring seethrough evening gown.

BOLLYWOOD BUZZ:

Candice’s Bollywood debut Aazaan is directed by Himesh Reshammiya’s brother-in-law Prashant Chadha, who earlier made Aap Ka Surroor. In Aazaan, Candice plays an undercover agent who doubles as a sand artist.

The film is slated for an October release and co-stars debutant Sachiin Joshi as the hero.

Despite her hot image as a Playboymodel, Candice insists she doesn’t share any steamy scenes with newcomer hero Sachiin in the film.

BYTE-WISE:

“I did know about Bollywood before this film because while growing up in South Africa we had Indian movies being shown on TV regularly.

I agreed to do this film because it isn’t typical Bollywood stuff.

Aazaan  has an international feel and the makers have avoided the clichéd dance routine of Hindi films,” she said.



Camilla Belle in Speedy Singhs

QUICK CHECK:

Camilla Belle

American- Canadian beauty Camilla Belle has been working in Hollywood for a while now. She starred in the 2008 prehistoric adventure hit, 10,000 BC, after roles in films such as Jurassic Park: The Lost Worldand When A Stranger Calls.

BOLLYWOOD BUZZ:

Camilla made her Bollywood debut in the Akshay Kumar-produced Hinglish crossover comedy, Speedy Singhs, opposite newcomer Vinay Virmani. In the film, about an NRI youth’s dream of making it big in the Canadian ice hockey scene, Candice plays a law student who helps a team of Toronto-based Sikhs tide over crisis.

She is also the hero’s love interest in the story. Akshay has said that he chose Camilla for the role for her “exotic” French-Canadian look.

During the promotions of the film in India, Camilla has drawn comparisons to Katrina Kaif. She has given gave clear indications that she is eyeing Bollywood stardom and is particularly serious about honing her skills in filmy dancing.

BYTE-WISE:

“I am open to Bollywood offers because I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience, Speedy Singhs.

I would love to do a Hindi film as long as I like the script,” she said.


Nargis Fakhri in Rockstar


QUICK CHECK:

Nargis Fakhri

American model Nargis — half-Czech half-Pakistani by origin — was born in Queens, New York.

In the US, she made waves when she appeared on America’s Next Top Model Season 2. Although she failed to win the contest, Nargis became very popular on the show.

She appeared on the Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar for the year 2009.

BOLLYWOOD BUZZ:

Nargis has already generated hype over her debut opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Rockstar, as well as rumours of her ‘affair’ with the young superstar.

Her closeness to Ranbir has been cited by the grapevine as the reason for Ranbir’s split with Katrina Kaif.

In fact, so immense has been the hype and curiosity surrounding her that Rockstar director Imtiaz Ali reportedly asked her to maintain a low-profile for now till the film’s promotional activity starts.

Rockstar is scheduled to release on November 11. Nargis, who can speak in English, German, Spanish and Greek, took just three months to master Hindi for the film.

BYTE-WISE:

“Not all foreigners are talentless and not all of us use our beauty to enter Bollywood,” she said in a recent Vogue interview.

Been here, done that

And then...

Foreign beauties who were introduced in the recent past

HAZEL KEECH

Half-Indian, half-British Hazel made her mark as Kareena Kapoor’s best friend in Bodyguard. Abroad, she featured in three of the early Harry Potter films.

BARBARA MORI

Bollywood’s mosthyped ‘foreign debut’ came to naught with Kitesflopping last year. The Mexican hottie has no film offers but will be seen on Bigg Boss 5.

LISA HAYDON

Half-Malayali, half- Australian Lisa made a sizzling debut in Aisha. She will be seen in David Dhawan’s Rascalsstarring Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt.

GISELLI MONTEIRO

The Brazilian beauty played a Punjabi girl in Love Aaj Kal. She also starred in Always Kabhi Kabhiand has rampwalked for Rohit Bal and Manish Malhotra.