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Dev Patel gets asked: “Why aren’t they giving these roles to a real Indian?”

Having established his acting career first in the UK with the TV show ‘Skins’ (2007-2008), Dev Patel landed his big break in the Danny Boyle super hit film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (2008). Ever since the actor has grown from strength to strength bagging roles in India as well as Hollywood. However, being from the UK, he has always faced questions on why he takes up such roles, rather than giving Indian actors from India the opportunity.

“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?” New Indian Express reports the actor explain.

He went on to say, “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 is currently working on a number of projects, including a David Copperfield biopic, ‘Green Knight’ to be directed by David Lowery and an American TV show titled ‘Modern Love’.