Interview with- Manish Dayal

RM - You had a role in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. What was the set like and did you have a chance to meet any of the big Bollywood stars?

MD - I did meet a few of the stars.  I met Shahrukh and acted with him as well.  The set was very large. There was an enormous crew and lots of background actors.  The scene took place at a school in New York City. I remember it was freezing cold that day.  I really wanted to meet Rani – hopefully I will one day! 

RM - What do you prefer more – Hollywood or Bollywood?

MD - That’s a hard question. Both are extremely satisfying. I love being a part of both.  I want both Hollywood and Bollywood to be a part of my career path.  Bollywood filmmaking is completely different. It’s fun and exciting. There’s always something happening.  I enjoy Bollywood and hope to get more opportunities to move in the direction towards a larger South Asian audience.

RM - As an actor, you always have to stay in shape and look good. Do you have any tips for our readers?

MD - Looking good is part of the business. But, I don’t get too wrapped up in that. I don’t make it apart of my every move. I'm casual.  To stay in shape, I weight train and I run.  My tip would be not to get too involved in how you appear.  It’s good to stay healthy, but you should do it for yourself and no one else.

RM - You've lived in quite a few cities. What's your favorite one and why?

MD - I have. I've lived in Washington DC, Los Angeles, Columbia, SC and New York City.  Without a doubt NEW YORK CITY is my favorite place. I love this city with all my heart.  There’s energy here unlike any other city that keeps me going.  If I had to equate it to any other city I would say it’s very similar to Bombay. Like Bombay’s energy, New York has that same rhythm.  I love NY and will always have a home here.

RM - What inspired to you to become an actor? Is your family supportive?

MD - I've always been an entertainer and involved in all of the arts. Making people laugh is something I enjoy very much.  Being a film actor there’s freedom to express someone else’s story. We are the voices of someone else’s story.  To play that part is fascinating to me and I only hope to continue doing it for the rest of my life. Becoming actor wasn’t easy. I didn’t grow up in a film family and I had no connections. I started when I was young, auditioning and meeting with as many people as I could.  Eventually I started to train and I got roles.  I grew more and more over the last few years.  I consider myself only getting started. I'm young and I haven’t even brushed the surface of where I hope to be.  I would like to follow the footsteps of my idols and hope to make my family, friends and community proud by doing quality work

RM - If you weren't in acting what else would you be doing?

MD - In addition to my acting career, I've produced a few things as well. If I weren’t an actor, I would be a full time Director/Producer.  It’s a passion of mine that I hope to develop later on.  I love the entertainment business and honestly I don’t think there’s anything else I would rather do.

RM - Who do you look up to in the entertainment community?

MD - The people I look up to in this industry are: Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, A.R. Rahman, Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, Morgan Freeman, Johnny Depp, Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Meryl Streep, Shekhar Kapur and Cate Blanchett. All of these people have influenced my decision to be a part of this business. Their work as inspired me as an artist.

RM - Tell us about your upcoming film On the Other Side

MD - On the Other Side is my first feature film in India.  It was a huge learning experience for me.  I learned what filmmaking is like in India.  It gave me a whole new perspective as an actor and taught me valuable skills.  The film is an exciting story about two friends who venture to India to shoot a documentary film. They are Americans in a quintessential “fish out of water” story.  I play Jack (Jaya Krishna).  My character falls in love with the Radha character.  It’s a great romantic comedy that has universal appeal. 

RM - What other projects do you have lined up?  

MD - I'm currently slated for 3 films.  One will be shot in Bombay.  It’s a feature film where I play a VILLAIN.  I haven’t played a “villain” yet.  I'm very excited to start shooting.  I'm also shooting another project here in New York City.  We start shooting this month.  It has an ensemble cast, which tells the story of a young group of street kids.  It’s a touching and familiar coming of age story.  The third one is a story about a young boy who’s been abused mentally and physically. It’s going to be a challenge for me, but I'm definitely ready.

RM - Describe your dream role, director, etc.

MD - My dream role would be to play the role of someone I admire.  I would love to do a biographical picture where I could play someone who’s instrumental to our culture.  A person who embodies what it is to be South Asian. To play the part of an Indian spiritual, artistic or political leader would be a dream come true.   I hope to one day bring that person to life on screen.  Maybe a story about Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru or even Amitabh Bachchan.

RM - Tell us 2 things that our readers would be surprised to know

MD - I am a very picky eater.  Good food is important to me – so important that I would walk 10 miles to find a good restaurant.   I really enjoy eating dinner while watching a film.  I am a person who really appreciates the arts. I read a lot of books, see lots of theater, and watch many films.

I’m a Gemini and people always tell me that I have two sides.  I'm an overachiever who is very driven but I also like to relax and sometimes be by myself.  I have a lot of energy and I like doing a million things at once. 

Thanks for your time and we look forward to seeing On the Other Side releasing this Fall