Half Indians, Full Hollywood?

Every now and then, we find a new ‘Indian-like’ face popping up in a Hollywood movie or tv series which makes us immediately want to get onto the search engine and Google that artist.

Interestingly an increasing breed of ‘half-Indians’ are making their mark in Hollywood. Still a very few names to count on, but there is always something exciting about spotting an Indian face in a non – Indian show. Two such names are Indira Varma and Annet Mahendru who are a part of the forthcoming releases Exodus: Gods and Kings and Penguins of Madagascar respectively. While Indira will be seen alongside the very charming Christian Bale, Annet has lent her voice in POM alongside the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch.

Indira Varma will be seen in Ridley Scott’s upcoming Exodus:Gods and Kings playing the role of the High Priestess – Miriam, sister of Moses (Christina Bale). Born to an Indian father and a Swiss mother, she made her film debut in Mira Nair’s film, Kama Sutra:A Tale of Love, and has since done  many leading roles like Bride and Prejudice with Aishwarya Rai and the international blockbuster tv series Game of Thrones. Her other recent television roles include Luther, Rome, Bones, 3 lbs, Human Target and Torchwood.

 

On the other hand, Annet Mehendru, born to a Russian mother and Indian father, has lent her voice to the animation film Penguins Of Madagascar as Eva, a Snowy Owl. Widely appreciated for her role in the Tv series ‘The Americans’, Mahendru’s other television credits include 2 Broke Girls Mike & Molly, Big Time Rush, The Blacklist and feature films like Escape from Tomorrow and Love Gloria.

While we also have the likes of Kunal Nayyar and Archie Panjabi who are fully Indian and fully Hollywood so to say, let’s hope Annet and Indira will be seen in our very own Bollywood movie too.

Both released by 20^th Century Fox in India, Penguins of Madagascar released on 28^th November and Exodus:Gods and Kings will open on 5^th December, one week prior to the US release.