Suraj, who became closely involved with the film apart from acting in it
New Delhi:
When Oscar-winning filmmaker AngLee selected a 17-year-old Delhi school student out of 3000boys to play the lead in his ambitious 3D project Life ofPi, little did they know that their equation will change froma director-actor to that of a mentor and protege during themaking of the film.
Suraj Sharma, who is set for worldwide fame afterstarring in the cinematic adaptation of Yann Martel's 2001Booker-prize winning novel, says his mother performed a littleceremony before the beginning of the film, making thecelebrated Taiwanese director his 'Guru'.
"From that ceremony or I think even before that,subconsciously Ang became my mentor and Guru. There are timeswhen you are stressed out about something and you meet him, hewill say something and you are calm suddenly.
"Ang has a Zen-like aura around him. I'd feel a lot ofpressure sometimes because I'd never done something like thisbefore, but his presence helped me a lot," Suraj told PTI.
"When you are acting out sometime you feel that it's notreal, but with him it's not like that. He would tell me 'startbeing the character', and that's how he became a mentor.Outside the set he would talk to me about my college. He hasbecome a very important person in my life," he added.
Suraj Sharma is set for worldwide fame afterstarring in the cinematic adaptation of Yann Martel's 2001Booker-prize winning novel
Suraj says nothing prepared him for the experience, noteven the three-month-long training, and it was equally toughfor others involved with the project. The actor says he fellin love with the craft of filmmaking despite the difficultiesthat they faced.
"They say that you should never make a film withchildren, water and animals and in this case there was 3Dalso. But I fell in love with the set. I loved the fact thatyou are creating something. It gets very technical anddifficult at times but I was attracted to it. I am sure thatnow I want to be related to films and make movies."
Life of Pi, considered one of the greatest survivalstories told through the eyes of a 16 year old boy adrift inthe ocean on a lifeboat for 225 days with a Bengal tiger forcompany, has been a very difficult project to take off.
Fox 2000 Pictures bought the movie rights and manydirectors boarded the project, including Indian-Americanfilmmaker M Night Shyamalan, but things could not take offafter some time.
Lee, the man behind contemporary classics like Sense andSensibility, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and BrokebackMountain, came on board to direct the film in 2009.
The director chose to come to Mumbai to select an unknownface as the lead besides casting experienced Indian actorslike Tabu, Irrfan Khan and Aadil Hussain in the lead.
Suraj, who became closely involved with the film apartfrom acting in it, says making it almost became a spiritualjourney and the difficulties that they faced while shootingonly brought the entire crew together.
"The movie had a lot to do about being interconnected.While shooting the film, it became a journey for us.Everything that happened in the movie started reflecting onthe crew. We became a family... I don't have the right word toexplain our bond," he said.
Suraj is nonchalant about his upcoming fame as the filmhits screens this November.
"I don't know how to prepare so I will just wait and see.I am very normal. I feel people would have an idea based onthe movie that I would some way be a big shot. I am not."
His older brother had gone for the audition but Surajended up being a part of the film. The youngster says hisparents were apprehensive about him leaving his studies midwayto shoot for a film.
"When I came back after the film I had to do my 12thagain. For me, that was a bit difficult to adjust. College iseasy. My friends are excited and they make fun of me too.
"But when I first got the role, my parents were doubtfulbecause it's an uncertain business. School was very important.But after Pi everything became easy. I went through anintense journey which has prepared me for many things."
Suraj is now looking forward to watch the film with hisbrother, who helped him prepare for the role.
"Everyone expected that my brother would be jealous of mebut he was the one who encouraged me. When I got the role, Iapproached him because he has theatre acting experience. Hewas very excited and helped me get through the film."
Suraj Sharma, who is set for worldwide fame afterstarring in the cinematic adaptation of Yann Martel's 2001Booker-prize winning novel, says his mother performed a littleceremony before the beginning of the film, making thecelebrated Taiwanese director his 'Guru'.
"From that ceremony or I think even before that,subconsciously Ang became my mentor and Guru. There are timeswhen you are stressed out about something and you meet him, hewill say something and you are calm suddenly.
"Ang has a Zen-like aura around him. I'd feel a lot ofpressure sometimes because I'd never done something like thisbefore, but his presence helped me a lot," Suraj told PTI.
"When you are acting out sometime you feel that it's notreal, but with him it's not like that. He would tell me 'startbeing the character', and that's how he became a mentor.Outside the set he would talk to me about my college. He hasbecome a very important person in my life," he added.
Suraj Sharma is set for worldwide fame afterstarring in the cinematic adaptation of Yann Martel's 2001Booker-prize winning novel
Suraj says nothing prepared him for the experience, noteven the three-month-long training, and it was equally toughfor others involved with the project. The actor says he fellin love with the craft of filmmaking despite the difficultiesthat they faced.
"They say that you should never make a film withchildren, water and animals and in this case there was 3Dalso. But I fell in love with the set. I loved the fact thatyou are creating something. It gets very technical anddifficult at times but I was attracted to it. I am sure thatnow I want to be related to films and make movies."
Life of Pi, considered one of the greatest survivalstories told through the eyes of a 16 year old boy adrift inthe ocean on a lifeboat for 225 days with a Bengal tiger forcompany, has been a very difficult project to take off.
Fox 2000 Pictures bought the movie rights and manydirectors boarded the project, including Indian-Americanfilmmaker M Night Shyamalan, but things could not take offafter some time.
Lee, the man behind contemporary classics like Sense andSensibility, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and BrokebackMountain, came on board to direct the film in 2009.
The director chose to come to Mumbai to select an unknownface as the lead besides casting experienced Indian actorslike Tabu, Irrfan Khan and Aadil Hussain in the lead.
Suraj, who became closely involved with the film apartfrom acting in it, says making it almost became a spiritualjourney and the difficulties that they faced while shootingonly brought the entire crew together.
"The movie had a lot to do about being interconnected.While shooting the film, it became a journey for us.Everything that happened in the movie started reflecting onthe crew. We became a family... I don't have the right word toexplain our bond," he said.
Suraj is nonchalant about his upcoming fame as the filmhits screens this November.
"I don't know how to prepare so I will just wait and see.I am very normal. I feel people would have an idea based onthe movie that I would some way be a big shot. I am not."
His older brother had gone for the audition but Surajended up being a part of the film. The youngster says hisparents were apprehensive about him leaving his studies midwayto shoot for a film.
"When I came back after the film I had to do my 12thagain. For me, that was a bit difficult to adjust. College iseasy. My friends are excited and they make fun of me too.
"But when I first got the role, my parents were doubtfulbecause it's an uncertain business. School was very important.But after Pi everything became easy. I went through anintense journey which has prepared me for many things."
Suraj is now looking forward to watch the film with hisbrother, who helped him prepare for the role.
"Everyone expected that my brother would be jealous of mebut he was the one who encouraged me. When I got the role, Iapproached him because he has theatre acting experience. Hewas very excited and helped me get through the film."
