Dev Patel gets flak for taking up Indian roles

DN Bureau

Dev Patel has revealed he is tired of being criticised for "stealing" roles from "real" Indian actors.

Dev Patel
Dev Patel


New York: British-Indian actor Dev Patel has revealed he is tired of being criticised for "stealing" roles from "real" Indian actors.

The 28-year-old actor, who was born in London to parents from Gujarat, India, said he is trying to understand himself better by connecting to his heritage.

Also Read: Dev Patel to make directorial debut

Also Read | Is Priyanka Chopra superstitious? Find Out!

"I get flak sometimes because people will say, 'Why aren't they giving these roles to a real Indian?' I wonder, What does that even mean? The only way I can converse with my grandparents is in Gujarati. Does that make me real enough? Or am I only allowed to witness the moments of prejudice and racism going through airports? Is that the only bit that I'm allowed of the culture? 

Dev Patel with his family 

"The truth is I'm trying to understand myself better and my heritage, to figure things out, in the movie choices I make. That's been the greatest thing for me in going to India repeatedly," Patel told San Francisco Chronicle.

Also Read: BAFTA 2017- Dev Patel wins Best Supporting Actor

Also Read | Check out! Priyanka Chopra’s winsome look in trench-coat gown

The "Lion" star previously confessed he "reconnected" with his Indian roots when he starred in the Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire". In 2016, he later said that he could never really fit in as the locals "could smell the foreigner on me". (PTI)










Related Stories