Not so long ago in Mumbai...

Gurnaaz Kaur

No one in India can forget the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack. It’s etched in the history of this country and even the world. That dreadful incident will be narrated as Hotel Mumbai, a Hollywood film that stars Anupam Kher, Dev Patel and Armie Hammer. It also has Punjabi boy Amandeep Singh, who will be playing the role of a terrorist. 

This film, Amandeep says, is more about what happened inside the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. “How the staff members, tourists, guests and terrorists fight through the circumstances. I play Imran, one of the four terrorists who intruded the hotel.”

Elated to have gotten a chance to work with A-list actors, this film also marks his debut. His eyes shining with gratitude, body language full of excitement, Amandeep says it couldn’t get better. “When I was signed for the film, my happiness knew no bounds. There has been no difference since. It has been an overwhelming learning experience. As a beginner I never imagined such a role will land in my lap. It was my flatmate who had gone to audition for one of the terrorists’ role and I had accompanied him just for the sake of motivation. He prodded me to take the audition and as luck would have it, I got the role while he didn’t.”

Elaborating his role, he says, “I play the character of the main terrorist Imran, who is a Pakistani Punjabi. It is amazing how similar the language and culture is across the border yet there is so much tension. With this film, everyone will get an insight into what happened at the time of the blasts. There is no question that the attack left unforgettable, inconsolable impressions in the minds of people. But the film will also reveal the thought process of Imran, an innocent boy who turns a terrorist.”

From shooting in Australia to partying with Hollywood stars as friends, Amandeep still feels it’s all been like a dream. “I’ve been in Mumbai since 2014. Getting work is not easy. I would give anywhere between five to eight auditions every day and end up with a cameo or one such side role in TV serials. I’ve done many ads too and I could have never imagined a big break like this one. God has been very kind,” he smiles.

Having done civil engineering, his parents wanted him to settle abroad but he knew right in college that he wanted to be in the entertainment industry. “I pushed my luck and made sure to do what I wanted to do. I had done theatre before but I knew nothing about acting as such, so I did a course in Mumbai. I learnt how deep it is. To understand human emotions, psychology and to be able to emote it on screen, the process has many layers and Hotel Mumbai has really added to my skills and understanding.”

His purpose of visiting Chandigarh is more than just promoting the film. “I want to connect with the audience of Punjab and I will soon come back for a film that I have written. It’s not a regular Punjabi comedy but delves into life’s reality, something that even Punjabi films should showcase,” he says proudly.

The movie is set to release on March 14 in Australia and New Zealand and on March 29 in the USA. It will be available on Netflix in India.

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