We have seen him give scene-stealing performances in Shor In The City, Shanghai and I Am Kalam. Now Pitobash Tripathy is the latest Bollywood actor to make an impact in Hollywood.
Pitobash's bravura act in Craig Gillespie's Million Dollar Arm has won him a new fan following in the West. Among the lineup of Indian actors in the film it is Pitobash who has won the maximum acclaim.
"Aur mazey ki baat yeh hai ke film abhi US mein release nahin hui hai. It has only been released in India. And the response is tremendous. The film opens on May 16, in the US," says Pitobash excitedly from Los Angeles where he has been stationed since April 30 for his big ticket to Hollywood.
Discernibly excited the young Oriya actor who started his Bollywood career with a brief role in Krishna DK and Raj Nidimoru's 99 in 2009 says he feels like a newcomer all over again. "I can't tell you the excitement and nervousness I feel. It's like I am starting my career from scratch. I have the same butterflies in my stomach."
The response in the US has been overwhelming. "We had a preview screening here in LA on 6 May. When I came out there were people waiting to get a picture with me and to get me to sign an autograph. I was stunned. I want to know how they came to know about me and my performance when the film has not opened in the US."
Dazed and disoriented Pitobash has sought Hollywood-centric Irrfan Khan's help. "I met him for advice on how to go about my career in the West. Irrfan Saab was very helpful. I've always looked up to him as a role model. Now I've more reason to do so."
Pitobash feels the entire cast of Million Dollar Arm has been most helpful. "Shooting the film was like a family affair. When we shot for 21 days in India we all became one united family. Then we moved to Atlanta and LA for shooting and the friendship grew even stronger. Everyone from John Hamm and Alan Arkin, to Suraj Sharma and Madhur Mittal became a friend. We all bonded so beautifully. And the bond continues even now during the film's release. All my colleagues from the cast are so helpful. They are helping me find my bearings in LA. I'd have been lost without them."
Pitabosh says the whole journey from Bollywood to Hollywood has been like a dream. "I can't believe I've come here. It took 2 and a half months and 16 rounds of audition for me to get this role. I feel I am part of a dream. I will soon wake up and realize it never happened."
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