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From backpacker to Bollywood extra | From backpacker to Bollywood extra |
(2 days later) | |
Scouts often cruise the streets of Mumbai looking for westerners to work as extras in Bollywood films. I ended up dancing on the set of a movie within a day of landing in India as a backpacker, says Howard Johnson. | Scouts often cruise the streets of Mumbai looking for westerners to work as extras in Bollywood films. I ended up dancing on the set of a movie within a day of landing in India as a backpacker, says Howard Johnson. |
Some people spend their lives seeking their 15 minutes of fame. But as I experienced in India, sometimes it comes looking for you. | Some people spend their lives seeking their 15 minutes of fame. But as I experienced in India, sometimes it comes looking for you. |
I'd just arrived in Mumbai after a flight from Bangladesh. A little travel weary I set about looking for a hotel on the streets of Colaba, the backpacker district. | I'd just arrived in Mumbai after a flight from Bangladesh. A little travel weary I set about looking for a hotel on the streets of Colaba, the backpacker district. |
Walking past the Salvation Army hostel a shadowy figure stood in a doorway called out to me: "Hey, want to be in a Bollywood movie?" | Walking past the Salvation Army hostel a shadowy figure stood in a doorway called out to me: "Hey, want to be in a Bollywood movie?" |
I'd read in my guide book that scouts trawl the area looking for westerners to work as extras, but I hadn't expected to be asked minutes after my arrival. | I'd read in my guide book that scouts trawl the area looking for westerners to work as extras, but I hadn't expected to be asked minutes after my arrival. |
The man was Amjad Khan, a casting agent for the film industry. He said all I'd have to do was dance a little behind the film's main actors. | The man was Amjad Khan, a casting agent for the film industry. He said all I'd have to do was dance a little behind the film's main actors. |
If I was interested we'd start the next day at 8am. I'd be driven to the studios, fed, dressed and returned to Colaba in the evening. And I would be paid for my efforts. | If I was interested we'd start the next day at 8am. I'd be driven to the studios, fed, dressed and returned to Colaba in the evening. And I would be paid for my efforts. |
Next morning I dragged myself to the meeting point. Stood in front of McDonald's on Colaba Causeway were a ragtag bunch of backpackers complete with dreadlocks, nose piercings, fisherman pants and tattoos. I had expected to see chiselled-jawed "foreign models". | |
My nine co-actors seemed the most unlikely types to swing and sway their hips behind the Bollywood stars. Amjad didn't seem to care though and set off for the film studios. | My nine co-actors seemed the most unlikely types to swing and sway their hips behind the Bollywood stars. Amjad didn't seem to care though and set off for the film studios. |
Private detective | Private detective |
Just under an hour later we arrived at the Filmistan Studios in Goregaon, central Mumbai. Despite being located on a dreary non-descript road, they have an illustrious 60-year-old history. After a quick breakfast of curried vegetables we headed off to get our costumes. | Just under an hour later we arrived at the Filmistan Studios in Goregaon, central Mumbai. Despite being located on a dreary non-descript road, they have an illustrious 60-year-old history. After a quick breakfast of curried vegetables we headed off to get our costumes. |
In a small, damp-smelling shed I was given a white nylon suit, black shirt, white tie and black shoes - none of which were clean. | In a small, damp-smelling shed I was given a white nylon suit, black shirt, white tie and black shoes - none of which were clean. |
Ignoring the sartorial set-back I headed outside to join the others. A remarkable transformation had taken place. They had been scrubbed up and now resembled a group of suave party-goers. | Ignoring the sartorial set-back I headed outside to join the others. A remarkable transformation had taken place. They had been scrubbed up and now resembled a group of suave party-goers. |
As we headed to the film set there was speculation over what the film was all about. Rumours were circulating that we would be dancing in a 1970s night club. | As we headed to the film set there was speculation over what the film was all about. Rumours were circulating that we would be dancing in a 1970s night club. |
When we finally arrived on set, in front of us was a vast mock up of an ice-white night club. Far from the retro, it looked like something from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. | When we finally arrived on set, in front of us was a vast mock up of an ice-white night club. Far from the retro, it looked like something from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. |
On the wall was a huge clock. Bell boys and waiters wandered around among a huge team of Indian dancers. The camera crew were busy setting up our first shot. A member of the production crew handed us a glass of neon-blue liquid. "Don't drink it," he said. | On the wall was a huge clock. Bell boys and waiters wandered around among a huge team of Indian dancers. The camera crew were busy setting up our first shot. A member of the production crew handed us a glass of neon-blue liquid. "Don't drink it," he said. |
Organised chaos | Organised chaos |
Minutes later an assistant director barked orders at us. We were moved millimetre by millimetre to be correctly placed in the camera frame. | Minutes later an assistant director barked orders at us. We were moved millimetre by millimetre to be correctly placed in the camera frame. |
Finally, when everything was set, superstar Akshay Kumar strode onto the set. The local extras excitedly whispered among themselves. | Finally, when everything was set, superstar Akshay Kumar strode onto the set. The local extras excitedly whispered among themselves. |
Having lived in India for a few months I knew a bit about Bollywood's big names. Unfortunately, the wow factor was lost on the western extras, as none of the others knew who he was. | Having lived in India for a few months I knew a bit about Bollywood's big names. Unfortunately, the wow factor was lost on the western extras, as none of the others knew who he was. |
Moments later director Anees Bazmee ambled onto the set and shouted through his megaphone: "Standby!" Generic pop music began to play. The cameras started to roll. | Moments later director Anees Bazmee ambled onto the set and shouted through his megaphone: "Standby!" Generic pop music began to play. The cameras started to roll. |
We nervously jigged around on the spot behind Kumar. Ten seconds later the music was cut. A minute later we were all moved back into place and the process began again. The pattern of the day was set. | We nervously jigged around on the spot behind Kumar. Ten seconds later the music was cut. A minute later we were all moved back into place and the process began again. The pattern of the day was set. |
Wad of notes | Wad of notes |
Word was we were on the set of a film called Thank You, a comedy set in Canada and about three philandering husbands. Kumar played a private detective trying to expose the wicked ways of one of the men. | Word was we were on the set of a film called Thank You, a comedy set in Canada and about three philandering husbands. Kumar played a private detective trying to expose the wicked ways of one of the men. |
As afternoon wore on the combination of bright lights, nylon suit and non-stop dancing left me thirsty. I stared at my blue drink wondering why I couldn't take a sip. Apparently, it was local tap water mixed with food dye. | As afternoon wore on the combination of bright lights, nylon suit and non-stop dancing left me thirsty. I stared at my blue drink wondering why I couldn't take a sip. Apparently, it was local tap water mixed with food dye. |
"We need water," shouted one of the extras. A runner was dispatched to get refreshments. We got a single bottle of mineral water to share among us. | "We need water," shouted one of the extras. A runner was dispatched to get refreshments. We got a single bottle of mineral water to share among us. |
At 9pm the film crew called it a day. After returning our costumes, we boarded the minibus taking us back to our hotels. | At 9pm the film crew called it a day. After returning our costumes, we boarded the minibus taking us back to our hotels. |
One of Amjad's colleagues pulled out a wad of notes and handed us 500 rupees each. For a 13-hour day we'd been paid just under £7, but the money really wasn't important. We felt we truly knew what it was like to be a "bollystar", if only for one day. | One of Amjad's colleagues pulled out a wad of notes and handed us 500 rupees each. For a 13-hour day we'd been paid just under £7, but the money really wasn't important. We felt we truly knew what it was like to be a "bollystar", if only for one day. |