Hey Leo, can you be Rumi?

Manpriya Singh

First the background information. Remember, how Idris Elba couldn’t play James Bond because he wasn’t ‘English’ enough?”

So, if the thousands of petitioners see Leonardo DiCaprio as ‘too white’ to play the Persian Sufi poet Rumi, is it ‘fair’ (pun definitely intended) enough? But then who can discount DiCaprio’s unrivaled acting prowess? Or, his ability to bring in just the right amount of spotlight to the film itself?

What’s the debate about?

Screenwriter David Franzoni in an interview disclosed his casting plans for a biopic on the Persian poet Rumi. Currently, the name of Leonardo is doing rounds for the lead role, while actor Robert Downey Jr is speculated to play Shams of Tabriz. "I hope to challenge the stereotypical portrayal of Muslim characters in western cinema," the screenwriter had said.

A case of Hollywood ‘whitewashing’?

On hearing the news, thousands have signed a petition for not casting The Revenant actor and instead casting a Middle-Eastern actor. “Now casting Leonardo as Rumi rewrites history, takes possession of Muslim accomplishments and gives the credit to a white man. Now when people think of Rumi, they'll picture him with pale skin, blond hair and blue eyes,” said Valerie Janovic, the person who set up the petition.

Whites have often played ‘coloured’ but not vice-versa

It’s no shock to Hollywood critics, who are used to seeing ‘whiter than white’ guys play the black characters. Joseph Fiennes being cast as African American icon Michael Jackson in a TV movie is just a case in point. Richard Gere, Russell Crowe and Christian Bale have each taken turns at playing Biblical Middle-Eastern characters (David, Noah and Moses). After all, even to play Mahatma Gandhi, they could best manage Sir Ben Kingsley.

The ruckus back home 

This isn’t for the first that an actor has been protested against for a biopic he/she is being considered for. 

• Priyanka Chopra as Mary Kom—Everyone raised a brow and perhaps a finger too as Priyanka Chopra was cast as Mary Kom. To very many, she didn’t look ‘Manipuri enough’ or ‘too glamourous’ to play the rugged part. 
• Aishwarya Rai as Dalbir Kaur—too much of anything is not a good thing, even if it’s a thing like beauty. Her looks have often been labeled as distracting in films, in this case she was considered, “too beautiful” or “too un-Punjabi” to play Pakistani captive Sarbjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur. In her own words, “The biggest challenge for me was people’s reluctance and suspicions on seeing me as Dalbir Kaur.” 

From the actor’s side 

Amidst all the petitions and speculations, a source close to Leonardo Dicaprio was quoted as saying, “He hasn't been asked, but regardless he will not be pursuing the project." Regardless, there will be several rooting for and voicing against the actor playing the historical figure.