Showing posts with label Neel Sethi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Neel Sethi. Show all posts
India makes me feel so calm-Neel Sethi
7:27 AM
Ria Lawrence (MID-DAY; March 29, 2016)
One of our fondest childhood memories is set to unfold on the big screen and the fact that The Jungle Book will release first in India has doubled the excitement. The movie based on a collection of short stories by India born English author Rudyard Kipling goes deep into the heart of Indian jungles and tells the tale of a young boy raised by a pack of wolves. Back in the day, not many things could match the public’s love for the long-haired boy and his adventures with the formidable Shere Khan. One can imagine then the onus that lies on the young boy who will portray the character on screen.
Enter Neel Sethi, an endearing 10-year-old Indian-American actor who was picked from among 2000 child actors to play Mowgli. We caught up with the little one, who was in the city to promote the Jon Favreau film, for a quick chat. Excerpts:
How did you bag this role?
I was actually part of an Indian dance class and my teacher happened to hear about this movie. So, I went for the auditions and it worked out pretty well.
You were the chosen one, selected from among several aspirants…
2000, to be precise. It’s a cool feeling.
Is this your first visit to India? How has it been so far?
I have actually come to India about six to seven times and I love it. I have heard many stories from my grandparents and parents who were so excited when they heard I had got this role. It’s great being back in my homeland; India just makes me feel so calm.
Let’s talk about the movie. Do you know how historic your role is? And the element of nostalgia attached to the movie?
I know now. I’m going to be traveling to Los Angeles, Paris and other cities in a couple of other countries and the reaction that it has been getting is pretty crazy. I went to Rudyard Kipling’s house with my parents; it’s like being part of something really big and important.
How did your friends react to your selection in the film?
They obviously thought it was pretty cool but no one knew it was this big. Back home, there’s no star treatment really. I hope it stays like that.
Do you miss school?
Nah.
How did you prepare for your role?
I had to take a pretty extensive training course in parkour. A lot of the jumping around that you see in the trailer, I did myself. I was literally jumping from one platform to another, except when it was super difficult; then they would bring in someone else.
This is your first film and it boasts of a stellar cast including Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley and Bill Murray. Did you get to meet them?
Oh yes! I actually played soccer with Bill Murray a lot and I dubbed with Ben Kingsley as well. I didn’t get to meet Scarlett though.
What’s the plan from here?
I have got a couple of other things in the pipeline. I definitely want to act more, but I also want to be a dentist.
10-yr-old Indian-American boy Neel Sethi to play Mowgli
8:29 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (July 17, 2014)
Ten-year-old Indian-American
boy Neel Sethi is set to star as Mowgli in the new live-action
adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic tale The Jungle Book. New
York-born Sethi will be the only actor to appear on screen in the
project, which is a combination of live-action and animation, said a
website. Jon Favreau is directing the film from a script by Justin Marks
for a 3D
release in 2015. While Mowgli's jungle family will be created with the
help of CGI, the voice cast boasts of Idris Elba as Sher Khan, Ben
Kingsley as Bagheera, and Scarlett Johansson and Lupita Nyong'o might
join the cast as well. Favreau said it was important to cast the right
face for Mowgli. He's confident Neel will be able to handle the role.
------------------------
MUMBAI MIRROR (July 17, 2014)
Jon Favreau has cast child
actor Neel Sethi to take on the only acting role in his upcoming
adaptation of Jungle Book. The 47-year-old actor-director has chosen the
10-year-old to play Mowgli, the orphan, raised in the jungle by a pack
of wolves, Baloo the bear and Bagheera, the black panther, in his
upcoming liveaction and animation reboot of the Disney classic.
Favreau said: ''Casting is the most important element of any film and finding the right kid to play Mowgli is imperative. Neel has tremendous talent and charisma. There is a lot riding on his little shoulders. I'm confident he can handle it.''
The filmmaker held auditions for thousands of hopefuls from New York to New Zealand, London to Canada and India.
MUMBAI MIRROR (July 17, 2014)
Jon Favreau has cast child
actor Neel Sethi to take on the only acting role in his upcoming
adaptation of Jungle Book. The 47-year-old actor-director has chosen the
10-year-old to play Mowgli, the orphan, raised in the jungle by a pack
of wolves, Baloo the bear and Bagheera, the black panther, in his
upcoming liveaction and animation reboot of the Disney classic. Favreau said: ''Casting is the most important element of any film and finding the right kid to play Mowgli is imperative. Neel has tremendous talent and charisma. There is a lot riding on his little shoulders. I'm confident he can handle it.''
The filmmaker held auditions for thousands of hopefuls from New York to New Zealand, London to Canada and India.
Jungle
Book will be the child actor's first big-screen appearance. Idris Elba
will voice the lion Sher Khan while Ben Kingsley will provide vocals for
Bagheera.
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