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Hotel Mumbai finally releases in India
An Interview with Nazanin Boniadi
Hotel Mumbai: Six Questions for Nazanin Boniadi, Actress and Activist
“It is a face-off between good and evil, one that was emotionally and physically exhausting for me to portray.”
1. What was your feeling when you were offered this role in ‘Hotel Mumbai’?
I was honored to be offered the role of Zahra Kashani. Particularly because Anthony cast me based on watching a video of me online, giving a human rights speech. The fact that he cast me based on my advocacy work, even though he had never seen me act, was very moving and spoke to not only his humanity but the humanity of the film.
2. How was it working with a great ensemble international cast and crew?
The cast and crew were a gift. There are no weak links here. It was a really collaborative experience, one that I will cherish forever. The ensemble became fast friends. Throughout filming we relied on each other not only on set, but in life. It was such a traumatizing shoot because of the subject matter, so we depended on each other during our downtime to lift each other’s spirits and shake off any baggage we felt from immersing ourselves in these roles. And being able to film in Mumbai and Adelaide was invaluable in that it allowed us to explore the cities and bond even more.
3. What was the most poignant scene for you and the most difficult to play?
Without spoiling anything for audiences, there is a prayer scene which I call “the yin and yang of faith.” This is a scene in which Zahra uses her faith to bring about courage, hope and survival, while the radicalized gunmen are perverting faith to instill fear and cause death. It is a face-off between good and evil, one that was emotionally and physically exhausting for me to portray. It is a powerful and beautifully written scene.
4. What would be your lasting memory of this film and what do you hope people take away from it?
My hope is that audiences walk away from the film feeling as inspired as we were while making it. At its core, Hotel Mumbai serves as an examination of an array of raw human responses to deep-seated class and social divides and constructs.
It shows how evil people can exploit and capitalize on the suffering of the destitute — which is how radicalization happens. It shows how the darkest in humanity can bring about the very best in us. It really is a tribute to the brave and selfless staff of the Taj Hotel.
At the end of the day, bullets don’t discriminate and when faced with such horror we are forced to set aside our racial, socio-economic, religious and other differences and band together to survive. In that sense, it conveys a strong message of unity, compassion and tolerance. One that our world needs more than ever.
5. Was this your first trip to India? What was your most memorable experience in the city?
Filming Hotel Mumbai was my first time visiting India. We filmed in Mumbai and I got the chance to travel to Udaipur which was breathtakingly beautiful. Mumbai was so eye-opening in its contradictions: luxury and abject poverty within a stone’s throw of each other.
In our film, the hotel serves as the perfect microcosm of both Mumbai and our greater world, one in which people from all backgrounds co-exist.
The people of India are some of the most welcoming and warm people I have ever met. And of course it helped that the legendary Anupam Kher is so widely loved in India — he was such a gracious guide for us while we were filming there. I look forward to visiting again.
6. You are both beautiful and talented – I can see Bollywood making a beeline for you! Any thoughts of acting in Indian cinema?
That’s very kind. I’d be honored! Not sure if it matters, but I don’t speak a lick of Hindi. But the barriers in world cinema seem to be breaking down. A good story truly resonates with people everywhere.
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