I turned down the role of three Idiots: Omi Vaidya
Working with Aamir was a superb practice, says the actor.
WASHINGTON, DC: Omi Vaidya is an American actor best known for his breakout spectacle as Chatur Ramalingam in the two thousand nine Bollywood film, Three Idiots. Vaidya has starred in four other Bollywood films while also directing two brief films. In an interview with The American Bazaar, Vaidya talked about how he became an overnight sensation and what his latest projects are. Excerpts from the interview:
Omi Vaidya; photo by Bala Chandran
Omi, you became an overnight sensation with your role as Chatur in three Idiots. Tell us how you got involved with this Bollywood blockbuster?
It all commenced with a journey I made to India a few years back with the intention of finding out what could come out of a script I wrote. It turned out there wasn’t that much interest in the script. As I was planning my tour back to the States, a friend of mine who was involved with three Idiots told me about a role they were auditioning NRI Actors for. Considering I didn’t speak Hindi or see Bollywood Movies, I wasn’t interested in auditioning. On top of that the role was not even written for yet.
But, my friend persuaded me to casting telling that it would be a good practice and a once in a lifetime chance. At the casting, I had to say lines from the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. I was very bold and nonchalant when telling the lines primarily because I didn’t think I was going to get the role. I also came across as very relaxed and certain even tho’ I didn’t know what I was telling. I was suggested the role as I was heading home from the casting. I actually turned down the role at very first but after six months of persistence and not accepting no as an reaction, the staff of three Idiots persuaded me to take the role.
Tell us about the film Big in Bollywood which chronicles your life?
Some friends of mine in America got in touch with a documentarian from Nepal. After hearing that I was going to starlet in a movie with Aamir Khan, the documentarian became indeed excited about the prospect of putting a documentary together about me around the release of three Idiots. The team from Nepal came to the premiere of three Idiots and told me that three Idiots movie was going to make me famous. I didn’t believe them for a moment but regardless was looking forward to having the documentary team there to capture my practice at the premiere. Turns out after the premiere, I did become famous overnight and people were nosey to find out more about me. Within a week, I went from walking down the street with no one providing me the time of day to it becoming difficult to walk down the street. Big in Bollywood is one of the few joy and laugh out noisy documentaries which chronicles the specific moment when someone actually becomes famous. While many people have heard about or read about it, to actually chronicle that moment was very special. Big in Bollywood truly permits the viewers to go on the entire roller coaster rail of what’s it’s like to become famous with me.
What was it like working with Aamir Khan?
It was a excellent practice. He’s a very cool dude who is utterly focused on his work. He’s also very driven and intense which can get scary at times. Overall tho’ he was very welcoming and always invited me to go out with the cast even tho’ I didn’t want to go at times, considering he was my enemy in the movie and I dreamed to stay in character as much as possible.
What can Omi Vaidya fans expect next?
Right now I’m working on my very first script as a Director and shooting some commercials in India. In the meantime, I’ve done four movies since three Idiots, including Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji with Ajay Devgan, Desi Boyz with Akshay Kumar, Players with Abhishek Bachchan and Jodi Breakers with Bipasha Basu.
I turned down the role of three Idiots: Omi Vaidya – The American Bazaar
I turned down the role of three Idiots: Omi Vaidya
Working with Aamir was a fine practice, says the actor.
WASHINGTON, DC: Omi Vaidya is an American actor best known for his breakout spectacle as Chatur Ramalingam in the two thousand nine Bollywood film, Three Idiots. Vaidya has starred in four other Bollywood films while also directing two brief films. In an interview with The American Bazaar, Vaidya talked about how he became an overnight sensation and what his latest projects are. Excerpts from the interview:
Omi Vaidya; photo by Bala Chandran
Omi, you became an overnight sensation with your role as Chatur in three Idiots. Tell us how you got involved with this Bollywood blockbuster?
It all began with a journey I made to India a few years back with the intention of finding out what could come out of a script I wrote. It turned out there wasn’t that much interest in the script. As I was planning my journey back to the States, a friend of mine who was involved with three Idiots told me about a role they were auditioning NRI Actors for. Considering I didn’t speak Hindi or observe Bollywood Movies, I wasn’t interested in auditioning. On top of that the role was not even written for yet.
But, my friend persuaded me to casting telling that it would be a good practice and a once in a lifetime chance. At the casting, I had to say lines from the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. I was very bold and nonchalant when telling the lines primarily because I didn’t think I was going to get the role. I also came across as very relaxed and certain even however I didn’t know what I was telling. I was suggested the role as I was heading home from the casting. I actually turned down the role at very first but after six months of persistence and not accepting no as an response, the staff of three Idiots persuaded me to take the role.
Tell us about the film Big in Bollywood which chronicles your life?
Some friends of mine in America got in touch with a documentarian from Nepal. After hearing that I was going to starlet in a movie with Aamir Khan, the documentarian became truly excited about the prospect of putting a documentary together about me around the release of three Idiots. The squad from Nepal came to the premiere of three Idiots and told me that three Idiots movie was going to make me famous. I didn’t believe them for a moment but regardless was looking forward to having the documentary team there to capture my practice at the premiere. Turns out after the premiere, I did become famous overnight and people were nosey to find out more about me. Within a week, I went from walking down the street with no one providing me the time of day to it becoming difficult to walk down the street. Big in Bollywood is one of the few joy and laugh out noisy documentaries which chronicles the specific moment when someone actually becomes famous. While many people have heard about or read about it, to actually chronicle that moment was very special. Big in Bollywood indeed permits the viewers to go on the entire roller coaster rail of what’s it’s like to become famous with me.
What was it like working with Aamir Khan?
It was a superb practice. He’s a very cool man who is enormously focused on his work. He’s also very driven and intense which can get scary at times. Overall however he was very welcoming and always invited me to go out with the cast even tho’ I didn’t want to go at times, considering he was my enemy in the movie and I wished to stay in character as much as possible.
What can Omi Vaidya fans expect next?
Right now I’m working on my very first script as a Director and shooting some commercials in India. In the meantime, I’ve done four movies since three Idiots, including Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji with Ajay Devgan, Desi Boyz with Akshay Kumar, Players with Abhishek Bachchan and Jodi Breakers with Bipasha Basu.
I turned down the role of three Idiots: Omi Vaidya – The American Bazaar
I turned down the role of three Idiots: Omi Vaidya
Working with Aamir was a fine practice, says the actor.
WASHINGTON, DC: Omi Vaidya is an American actor best known for his breakout spectacle as Chatur Ramalingam in the two thousand nine Bollywood film, Three Idiots. Vaidya has starred in four other Bollywood films while also directing two brief films. In an interview with The American Bazaar, Vaidya talked about how he became an overnight sensation and what his latest projects are. Excerpts from the interview:
Omi Vaidya; photo by Bala Chandran
Omi, you became an overnight sensation with your role as Chatur in three Idiots. Tell us how you got involved with this Bollywood blockbuster?
It all commenced with a excursion I made to India a few years back with the intention of finding out what could come out of a script I wrote. It turned out there wasn’t that much interest in the script. As I was planning my journey back to the States, a friend of mine who was involved with three Idiots told me about a role they were auditioning NRI Actors for. Considering I didn’t speak Hindi or witness Bollywood Movies, I wasn’t interested in auditioning. On top of that the role was not even written for yet.
But, my friend wooed me to casting telling that it would be a good practice and a once in a lifetime chance. At the casting, I had to say lines from the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. I was very bold and nonchalant when telling the lines primarily because I didn’t think I was going to get the role. I also came across as very relaxed and certain even however I didn’t know what I was telling. I was suggested the role as I was heading home from the casting. I actually turned down the role at very first but after six months of persistence and not accepting no as an reaction, the staff of three Idiots coaxed me to take the role.
Tell us about the film Big in Bollywood which chronicles your life?
Some friends of mine in America got in touch with a documentarian from Nepal. After hearing that I was going to starlet in a movie with Aamir Khan, the documentarian became truly excited about the prospect of putting a documentary together about me around the release of three Idiots. The squad from Nepal came to the premiere of three Idiots and told me that three Idiots movie was going to make me famous. I didn’t believe them for a moment but regardless was looking forward to having the documentary team there to capture my practice at the premiere. Turns out after the premiere, I did become famous overnight and people were nosey to find out more about me. Within a week, I went from walking down the street with no one providing me the time of day to it becoming difficult to walk down the street. Big in Bollywood is one of the few joy and laugh out noisy documentaries which chronicles the specific moment when someone actually becomes famous. While many people have heard about or read about it, to actually chronicle that moment was very special. Big in Bollywood indeed permits the viewers to go on the entire roller coaster rail of what’s it’s like to become famous with me.
What was it like working with Aamir Khan?
It was a superb practice. He’s a very cool man who is utterly focused on his work. He’s also very driven and intense which can get scary at times. Overall tho’ he was very welcoming and always invited me to go out with the cast even tho’ I didn’t want to go at times, considering he was my enemy in the movie and I dreamed to stay in character as much as possible.
What can Omi Vaidya fans expect next?
Right now I’m working on my very first script as a Director and shooting some commercials in India. In the meantime, I’ve done four movies since three Idiots, including Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji with Ajay Devgan, Desi Boyz with Akshay Kumar, Players with Abhishek Bachchan and Jodi Breakers with Bipasha Basu.