It’s been a reasonably cool 80 degrees this past week, so I hope you were able to ditch the work emails and head out to some of our cool events. If not, then this is the week to do it! With the Fourth of July holiday on Monday, I’m sure the long weekend is much-needed to regroup. I have an outside Bollywood dance party and for the extreme anime lovers, there’s a HUGE convention going on (complete with costumes galore).
David B. Jang: New Works
When: Now through Wednesday, August 3, 8 am
Where: DAC Gallery, 828 S. Main St., Los Angeles, 90014
How: It’s free.
Artist David B. Jang turns ordinary objects into extraordinary pieces of art. Styrofoam cups, empty potato chip bags and scraps of paper towels come together to make pieces that, the artist says, viewers can relate to because of the familiarity they have with the materials.
Here, more of our conversation with Desi Hits! CEO Anjula Acharia-Bath featured in our Summer issue.
Audrey Magazine: Given England’s long association with India, I was a bit surprised to read that you experienced so much racism growing up — a very similar experience for many Asian Americans growing up in the ’70s. Can you tell us a bit more about your experience and how you came to embrace your Indian heritage?
In the U.S., we have Avatar and Titanic. China has Aftershock, a re-recreation of the deadly Tangshan earthquake. In India, it’s 3 Idiots that is the highest grossing film of all time.
Now, that’s no small feat for a country that churns out more than 1,000 films a year to a population of 1.2 billion. The multiple award-winning Bollywood film (it swept the International Indian Film Academy Awards) not only packs some serious star power (including Aamir Khan), it addresses some serious societal issues, all wrapped up in a heartfelt comedy starring three charming and lovable heroes.
Indian star Shah Rukh Khan's wax figure, just revealed at Madame Tussauds Times Square. Photo by Alex Oliveira/startraksphoto.com, courtesy of Gitesh Pandya.
As celebrated Bollywood film star, Shah Rukh Khan (whose latest film My Name is Khan is out on DVD now), made his debut at Madame Tussauds New York Wax Museum in Times Square last week — a part of the museum’s “Bollywood Zone” which includes film legend Amitabh Bachchan — we couldn’t help but wonder, which other Asian and Asian American greats have been immortalized in wax figure by the popular tourist attraction?
Aishwarya Rai, left, with her wax figure likeness.
Seems like, not many.
After some sleuthing, we have found martial arts kings Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee at the Madame Tussauds Hollywood location and a tense-looking Tiger Woods at the Vegas location. And of course there’s Indian film legend Aishwarya Rai in the museum’s London location.
As for rest of the ladies? Fuggetabout it. The closest figurine we spotted even resembling an Asian woman was an eerie Michael Jackson figure made as part of a Jackson tribute at the Washington, D.C. museum.
The wax figure of Michelle Yeoh.
For the rest of us itching to cuddle up with wax figures of Lucy Liu or Michelle Yeoh, we’ll have to travel a bit farther — to a Hong Kong, Shanghai or soon-to-be-opened Bangkok location to get our fix. ‘Cause frankly, putting your arms around an Asian-looking Michael Jackson just doesn’t cut it.
Haven’t seen a Bollywood film yet? Where have you been? A Bollywood film is this year’s Korean drama — it’s a must-see for anyone in the know.
Well, you’re in luck. My Name is Khan is out on DVD now. (Add it to your Netflix queue!)
And excellent timing, too — the film’s star, Shah Rukh Khan (otherwise known as the king of Bollywood) — is set to reveal the ultimate homage to mainstream pop culture fame: a wax figure at Madame Tussauds. (The premiere is today at Times Square in New York!)
So what are you waiting for? I mean, My Name is Khan only set a new all-time record for the biggest opening weekend for a Bollywood film in North America. Two of Bollywood’s biggest stars, Kahn and the stunningly gorgeous Kajol, star in it. And the film is not your typical Bollywood fare: Khan plays the endearing Rizwan, a uniquely gifted man who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, who moves to San Francisco after his devoted mother passes away to make a happy life for himself. He meets a vivacious single mother, Mandira (Kajol), and they form a unique bond and fall in love against all odds. But when fate threatens to separate them, Rizwan decides to embark on a journey across America to win back the love of his life.
Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in "My Name is Khan."
The Los Angeles Times called the film “a potent, energetic heart-tugger,” while The New York Times described it as “an affecting fairy tale about the perils of goodness.” And the DVD has tons of special features too, like the changing face of Bollywood, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and, of course, loads of music.
Get the DVD here.
There’s a new film in town and it’s got Bollywood — and the rest of the world — abuzz. Between its multicultural stars, action-romance storyline and scenic backdrops of Santa Fe and Las Vegas, Kites is about a fight for love that crosses boundaries, barriers and cultures. It’s opening tomorrow worldwide in more than 60 countries, and across more than 200 theaters in North America alone, the widest release ever for a Bollywood film.
Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori in Kites.
Kites stars Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan and Mexican actress Barbara Mori, who is of Japanese, Uruguayan and Mexican descent. Roshan plays a hunted man, left for dead in the Mexican desert. The only thing keeping him going is his search for the mysterious Natasha, played by Mori.
Hrithik Roshan in Kites.
Barbara Mori.
“The idea for Kites came to me when I was gazing at the sky and saw two kites flying,” says Rakesh Roshan, the film’s producer. “It was very intriguing — the way they came close, played, almost embraced each other and then drew apart. Unaware that someone else was pulling the strings and could cut them loose. I sat down and penned a story around this idea.” This little idea became one of the biggest films ever produced in India.
A scene from Kites.
Roshan and Mori in Kites.
Want a sneak preview? Due to unprecedented advance bookings, Reliance BIG Pictures will be showing special one day early screenings tonight at 8:00 pm in these selected theaters:
Mori in Kites.
BIG Cinemas Fremont 7 – Fremont, CA
BIG Cinemas Columbia Park – North Bergen, NJ
BIG Cinemas Movie City 8 – Edison, NJ
BIG Cinemas Golf Glen Stadium 5 – Niles, IL
BIG Cinemas Loehmann’s 2 – Falls Church, VA
BIG Cinemas Peachtree 8 – Norcross, GA
Get more information at the film’s official site.
Hrithik Roshan.
