Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, is scheduled to hit the theatres today.
But the movie was creating a lot of buzz even before its release, and many in India were fascinated by actor Simu Liu’s comment that he would like to work in Bollywood one day.
The Canadian actor, best known for portraying Shang-Chi in the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, plays one of the many Kens alongside Gosling in Barbie.
Liu told Pinkvilla that just like Bollywood, Barbie has music and there’s plenty of singing and dancing. “I wish to do a Bollywood dance number,” he said.
And his aspiration is not unfounded.
Liu is a fan of SS Rajamouli’s blockbuster RRR, which continues to impress audiences in the West since its digital release on Netflix and in select theatres in the United States.
“RRR was so phenomenal. It was absolutely incredible. It blew me away,” he said.
“There are a lot of similarities between Barbie and Bollywood. There’s the focus on music. There are songs, singing and dancing. The actors are performing and singing, and there are several treats for the audience,” added Liu, pointing out that the movie based on the famous doll had the staples of a Bollywood movie.
“I feel like it’s such a natural thing for an actor to look at Bollywood and want to participate, to be a part of it in some way.
“So, yeah, I’m putting it out there. I want to be in a Bollywood movie. I wanna be part of a Bollywood dance number. I really wanna make it happen.”
Liu’s wish to venture into Bollywood is a reflection of the growing influence and popularity of Indian cinema worldwide.
He is not the only actor who has expressed a desire to make a foray into Bollywood, having recognised its significant impact on global cinema.
As Liu’s career continues to soar, his inclination toward Bollywood showcases his versatility and willingness to explore diverse cinematic genres.
Directed by Greta Gerwig and co-written with Noah Baumbach, Barbie features an ensemble cast including Margot as Barbie, Gosling as Ken, Helen Mirren, Nicola Coughlan, Kate McKinnon, Alexandra Shipp, America Ferrera, Hari Nef and Will Ferrell. Singer Dua Lipa plays a mermaid.
The story centres on Barbie and Ken leaving their seemingly perfect Barbie Land to go to the real world, where they discover the joys and perils of living among humans.
The star-studded Barbie will face significant competition from Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated Oppenheimer, which is also scheduled to hit the theatres today.
Both films are enjoying tremendous hype and if advance booking indicators are anything to go by, they are going to drop with a bang in India.
According to the figures posted by a film trade analyst on Monday, Oppenheimer has booked as many as 90,000 tickets across all three multiple chains – PVR, INOX and Cinepolis – for the opening day itself.
Barbie has sold 16,000 tickets.
News platform Insider claimed that when Nolan was asked at a press event if he had watched Barbie, he said “no”. It was a curt response accompanied by “a hint of disinterest”, said Insider.
Indo-Asian News Service
