Director Ang Lee has pointed out several times that he chose relatively unknown actors in his new film “Life of Pi” to make the film seem realistic to U.S. viewers. He went so far as to remove Tobey Maguire from the film and replace him with lesser-known Rafe Spall because he felt Maguire would stand out too much. The problem with Lee’s claim is that several of the actors in “Life of Pi” are very famous. They just aren’t famous in the United States. Just because Americans don’t recognize these faces, doesn’t mean they are “unknowns.”
Irrfan Khan
Irrfan Khan has a very recognizable face throughout India, but many movie fans in the United States also recognize him. He’s just never played a major role in a blockbuster film in the U.S. In India, Khan has received several of the highest awards, including the Padmi Shri. He has received much praise for his roles in “New York,” “Life in a Metro,” “Haasil,” and “Paan Singh Tomar.” He has a very eclectic acting style, jumping from villain, lover to comic. While many in the U.S. won’t recognize his name, they will recognize his face from “Slumdog Millionaire.” Yes, he played the cop that strings Jamal up and asks about the show. Most recently, Khan had a role in “The Amazing Spider-Man” as Dr. Ratha. Thanks to “Life of Pi,” Khan just might finally get some of the recognition he deserves here in the U.S. and fans will get to see more of him.
Tabu
Tabu is a beautiful Indian film actress who has garnered much praise for her work by critics. Tabu is more interested in acting dramatic roles that move people instead of films that bring in money at the box office. Because of this, Tabu has won several critics choice awards from the Filmfare Awards. The Filmfare Awards are the Bollywood version of the Oscars. While few will recognize her face or name in the U.S., she did star in a well-received U.S. release, “The Namesake.” Critics, and many fans of the book, loved ” The Namesake,” but it didn’t receive much notice from regular movie going crowds. Tabu starred alongside Irrfan Khan in “The Namesake.”
Gerard Depardieu
Gerard Depardieu as an unknown actor? Does Ang Lee even watch movies? How about “Green Card,” “My Father, the Hero,” and “Cyrano De Bergerac? Depardieu’s face was everywhere in the 1990s right here in the U.S., so how is he an unknown actor? Have people forgotten him since then? The United States might have forgotten Gerard Depardieu, but his home country of France certainly hasn’t. He was famous before the ’90s and he remains just as famous now. He has also continued to play small roles in U.S. films, such as “Last Holiday.”
Suraj Sharma
Here is where Ang Lee has gotten it correct. Suraj Sharma is an unknown actor because “Life of Pi” is his very first film. What does anyone know about Suraj Sharma? He likes music, play instruments, and is praised for his karate skills. Playing Pi in “Life of Pi” could not have been any easy task for a first time actor, especially since the character spends so much time on a ship with animals and no human contact. It isn’t easy acting to a tennis ball before computer CGI additions. “Life of Pi” is a loved book and Ang Lee is a loved director. Suraj Sharma just might begin his acting career with a bang and become a famous actor instead of an unknown.
