Q & A WITH PRASHANT KUMAR

In a brief candid conversation with India Empire, New York born n’ raised actor Prashant Kumar, 24, explains why he is Bollywood-bound. After all, having trained in the finest acting schools in the US and getting most of his on going gigs there, one would be curious as to how and why he's all set for Hindi cinema

Mr Kumar, kindly explain your connection with the term "Bollywood-Bound?"
Frankly speaking, I have yet to understand this term myself. I certainly do not address myself that way. Indeed, my dream is to be a leading man in mainstream Hindi films, but the word "bound" comes off a bit too haughty. Also, I continue to feel that the term "Bollywood" is absolutely politically incorrect. 

But Prashant, don't you ever go through questions about being able to speak Hindi and understanding Indian film culture, you know, having been brought up in America? 
I go through such questions all the time, but I reply back in Hindi and put an end to all concerns. Hindi is my mother-tongue and at least there I have never made any compromises on my ability or fluency. For this I thank my parents all the way. Besides, I live on Hindi songs and poetry, am very fond of the golden era of Hindi music and extremely passionate about ghazals. We speak Hindi at home. English is my second language. As for the Indian film culture, it's as close to me as my religion.

Tell us a bit about your work thus far? 
Well, in a span of four years, I've done everything from being an extra to starring as the leading man in my first international feature film, Rainbow Rani. In the interim, I've appeared in commercials for well known companies like Goldman Sachs, Topomax, Vonage, Shaadi.com, Indian Express, and recently, a newly emerging Indian dotcom company, paysignet.com, has signed me on as a corporate model. Rainbow Rani was directed by veteran Caribbean filmmaker Mickey Nivelli and released theatrically in several territories a few months ago. 

January 2007