Pooja Kumar Goes From St. Louis to Bollywood

Hometown girl Pooja Kumar did something rare: She crossed an ocean and became a movie star in Bollywood, the Indian film industry. We asked the former Miss India USA about her intercontinental career.

What film are you working on now? I have a film being released this summer called Uttama Villain. It’s in a language called Tamil, from the southern region of India. I don’t speak it, so they had to write my lines out phonetically in English. I get to do three big dance numbers. One is in the classical Indian style, one is in a style called kathakali, and the other one is in the contemporary Bollywood style. The lead actor-director is a superstar in India, Kamal Haasan. He’s done more than 230 films in five languages. I’ve done three with him. One was called Vishwaroopam, an action film that was fairly successful. We shot a sequel that’s coming out later this year. In that one, I use my SCUBA-diving skills—I do all my own underwater action sequences.

What’s it like traveling between Hollywood and Bollywood? I live in New York, but I do a lot of traveling back and forth between India and L.A. I’m living out of a suitcase currently, but that’s a good thing. I get to do what I love for a living, and I love to travel, too. The main difference is the language. That’s something you have to acclimate yourself to, going back and forth, along with all the changing tones and intonations. When I was growing up, I spent every summer with my family in India. That has eased the process for me. If you love what you do, you can do it anywhere.

You do action, comedy, drama, musicals… I love it all, and I’m lucky I get to do a variety of things. I have a bunch of different looks: a short-hair look, a long-hair look, a period look, and so on, so I’m fortunate to be in a lot of films that show me in different ways. It’s a great time for females in film as well. We get to do it all now. I’m also lucky in that I can work in five languages: Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.

For the uninitiated, how would you describe India’s film culture? The film culture in India is huge. That’s the only form of entertainment people have, for the most part. We don’t have bars, pool tables, or bowling alleys. Instead, the whole family goes together to the movies. They’re often single-cinema theaters, and they’re affordable. That’s why movie stars are treated like gods. The movies are one of the few outlets people have.

Bollywood films conform to the cultural norms of India, which seem conservative. India is living in the 17th century and the 21st century at same time. It’s a mentality where they’re very protective of their women. There’s not a lot of skin [in films]. There used to be no kissing; now there is just a little. That’s just a part of the culture and the way it’s evolving. Eventually, it may become more modern with more kissing. I think there are stories about culture and life that are more interesting than just sexuality. India is changing. Women are accepted in the workforce more and driving more. It’s an exciting time in India.

When you were growing up in St. Louis, you danced with the Dances of India troupe. I grew up attending Parkway West High School and doing traditional Indian dance with Dances of India. I loved working with [troupe director] Asha Prem. I think she’s supertalented. The way she teaches is unique, and it makes you want to dance more. This is a centuries-old Indian art form and she’s teaching it to Indian-Americans. She made us want to learn the culture and art so beautifully.

Are you recognized more in India than in the U.S.? When I arrive in Chennai, I am very much recognized. It’s very interesting, because when I’m in L.A., at the shopping mall, a few people might recognize me, but in Chennai, I am mobbed. It can become difficult to move around. It’s exciting and fun. It feels great, because I’ve influenced people in some way—in a good way, I hope. It’s like I’ve been inside their house.