The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies
The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies |
| Priyanka's popularity soars in Hollywood Posted: Bollywood's Priyanka Chopra targets stereotypes in Hollywood. Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has a higher mission than just making it in Hollywood: she wants to break down stereotypes of Indians in Tinseltown's eyes and maybe make things easier for her compatriots who live in the United States. Here's her first lesson: "We don't travel on elephants, there aren't any snake charmers on the side of the road, everybody doesn't talk like Apu from The Simpsons," the actress says, with a bit of a laugh. Chopra, 31, is one of the biggest stars to emerge in Indian film in recent years, alongside Bollywood heavyweights Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan, with big budget franchises such as Krrish and Don. She has also won plaudits for taking on unconventional roles, most recently playing an autistic woman in 2012's Barfi!. But in her latest role as an eye-catching animated racing airplane in Disney's global adventure Planes, Chopra said she is hoping to cross the boundaries of Bollywood to Hollywood. "This is a very global movie. You have characters from all across the world, and I think for kids, it's great to understand that there's so many different kinds of culture and people out there," the actress told Reuters. Chopra plays the voice of Ishani in the movie. "I was 17 years old, I didn't know anything. I just went with my gut and I wanted to take a chance," she said, adding "I've made so many mistakes along the way." Chopra is currently in production on a biopic about Indian Olympic boxing champion Mary Kom, and learning to box herself, Chopra said the role was "the most difficult film I've ever done". "Mary is a national icon. She's a five-time world champion, a mother of three kids, an Olympic medallist and she has an incredible story," the actress said. "The challenge was that I have to learn a completely new sport and play a living, breathing person." Chopra, who was born and raised in India and also spent a few years living in the United States in her teens, has conquered the ranks of Bollywood, but cracking into Hollywood has presented its own challenges. "There is a very big stereotype with Indian actors, and you get only Indian parts. There is a stereotype that there's a certain accent and there's a certain vibe and how is that cool. I felt a lot of that and I really want to be able to change that, for people to be proud of their roots," the actress said. Pop album, top producer It will feature more collaborations with other artistes, although Chopra said it was too early to reveal any names. "My album is like me – eclectic in my taste." said Chopra. "I like a little bit of everything, so my album has ballad, mid tempos, pop, a little rap, EDM ... a little bit of everything." With her music and film career expanding outside of Bollywood, Chopra said she was now in a position to change common misconceptions that people may have about India. "It was really hard for me when I went to school in the US, and I don't want that to happen to any more kids or people who come from my part of the world. So if I can do something to change that perception, I'd be happy," she said. — Reuters > Disney's Planes opens in cinemas in Malaysia on Aug 15. |
| Posted: Regional cast in the Bahasa Malaysia version of latest Madagascar movie. THIS coming Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, HBO Asia serves up an exclusive treat for its Malaysian viewers: the Asian television premiere of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. Looking at the cast list, the voice actors for the Bahasa Malaysia version comprise an impressive lineup of celebrities from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Voicing the lead character Alex the Lion is award-winning singer Hafiz Suip, actress Lisa Surihani is Gloria the Hippo, and Singaporean singer Taufik Batisah and actor Fahrin Ahmad voice the characters of Marty the Zebra and Melman the Giraffe respectively. Others in the cast include Singaporean host and musician Najip Ali as Julien the Lemur. Singers Jazz Hassan from Brunei and Hazama Ahmad Azmi from Malaysia will voice penguins Private and Skipper. You'll also hear actress Didie Alias (as Captain DuBois), director Hafizuddin Fadzil (Vitaly the Tiger), actress Nabila Huda (Gia the Jaguar), host and actor Farish Aziz (Mort), ERA FM announcers Zahid (Maurice), Ray (Stefano the Sea Lion), Adi (Jonesy), Haniff (Comandante) and Hitz FM deejay Rizal (Freddie) in the movie. Lisa Surihani was excited about playing a voice role as she is a big fan of the animated movie franchise. Playing Gloria was a dream come true of sorts for her. "I have always wanted to do a voice-over for an animation and I got it! So I'm really excited. Yes I watched the movie several times so I would really understand the story. "Even though we are different sizes – myself and Gloria – we are so similar on the inside!" said Lisa during the recent press conference. "It was challenging as it is done in Bahasa Malaysia and I had to make sure that I spoke in sync with the lip movements on the screen at all times, but (at the same time) I also tried my best not to imitate the character too much as I wanted to give it a Malaysian touch. For Hafiz, he was grateful for the experience and found taking on the role of Alex the Lion really challenging because he had the most lines. "Alex is hyper at times and it was difficult initially but I was being myself and put my identity into my voice," he said. The affable Najip welcomed the part of Julien with open arms – voicing the manic character was both interesting and challenging. "I've been a fan of the film series and I just love Julien's signature song," he revealed before proceeding to sing the chorus (I like to move it, move it). "I decided to voice Julien with an identifiable Indian twang. It was a real challenge but fun nonetheless." Taufik, on the other hand, was hesitant at first to accept this role because he had never done voice acting before. "Seriously, I didn't want to sound like Chris Rock (who voices Marty in the original Madagascar films). I did try to imitate him but I got a headache afterwards. It was a fun experience, though." Fahrin was glad that his experience in voice acting for the animation series Saladin helped him to voice Melman the Giraffe. "I knew what I had to do. I had watched the film the night before recording, and recorded all of my parts for Melman in three hours the next day," he recalled. Actress Didie had a challenge – she had to speak with a French accent for the role of the animal control officer, Captain DuBois. "She is a unique character, so I watched the film with my kids to get an idea of how to voice her," she explained. HBO Asia sales and affiliate marketing head Jacelyn Kek said that it did a similar project with The Smurfs last year but only recruited Malaysian talents. "This year, we decided to include talents from South-east Asia," she explained.  Seeing double: Voicing the lead character of Alex the Lion is award-winning singer Hafiz Suip. In Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, the famous foursome – Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman – who are stranded on an island, are still trying to find their way home to New York. Their journey takes them to Europe where they are relentlessly pursued by the murderous Captain DuBois. The four join a failing travelling circus and end up reviving the business, leaving them to question where home really is.
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