By Aneesa Malik
Rejection is a definite contender when it involves having a dream crushed. But for one aspiring actor, being told that he was ‘useless’ motivated him to raise a staggering £15,000 to fund his very own Sri Lankan blockbuster.
Kiran Rai, from Nottingham was told to fly home after the Sinhalese speaking Sri Lankan film had been promoted. Kiran explained: “The producers shouted at me in the hotel room and told me I was ‘useless’ and that they needed a Sri Lankan actor. They said sorry but I knew inside, they weren’t sorry, they used me for media attention in the UK.”
It was at this moment Kiran decided to change this negative situation into a positive. “It hurt my feelings but I decided not to give up and told the film producer that I will come up with the money and begged the director to allow me to have 1 month to find the money. Standing outside the train station raising money was a thing where it became desperate, people knew I wasn’t homeless, but they knew I was crying out for help.”
Although there are grants, loans and other avenues of raising such a large amount of money, Kiran felt he had exhausted all other options. He had no choice but to resort to begging. “I tried everything but I have worked on the biggest projects in the world, I am very blessed that my work makes world news daily. I am very lucky that whatever things I touch, people now want to know what I’m doing. I am very luck; very humbled also.”
Being in the position of a struggling actor, in the past, Kiran knows all too well how hard it really can be at times. His advice is to “be brave and find things for you that work, don’t be afraid of anyone and always speak LOUD and clear. People love people who speak their mind and able to stand your ground. It’s a tool that people need and have.”
Wanting to break it into mainstream Bollywood and Hollywood, Kiran believes: “We need Asian actors going to Hollywood. Dev Patel made it happen and he was a young geeky Indian kid and now one of the most powerful Asian actors today. If he can do it, we can do it.
“I am wanting to move to the States in January and test the waters, see what I can do out there. It will be a great success for me and I am hoping to make a blast through them doors into the world of modelling and acting.. I am boy who is doing what I love and travelling. It’s an amazing feeling for me.”
The money that Kiran raised went towards the film in Sri Lanka, which is now out in cinemas. Speaking about the experience, Kiran said: “I am happy about being honest, thank God the film is over, now I can look towards new projects. This is a life experience for me. It really was.”
